Kayla Arnesen 720.898.5919
karnesen@CommunityFirstFoundation.org

Community First Foundation Receives National Recognition

ARVADA, Colo. (March 21, 2017) – Community First Foundation is pleased to announce we have been re-accredited by National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations®. Accreditation, signified by the seal shown here, indicates Community First Foundation meets the highest standards of philanthropic excellence. The Foundation was initially accredited in 2012. Foundations must earn re-accreditation every five years.

“Meeting the National Standards benchmarks is a rigorous, comprehensive process,” said Randy Royster, chair of the Community Foundations National Standards Board. “This accreditation is a significant accomplishment that indicates Community First Foundation demonstrates a commitment to transparency, quality, integrity and accountability as it carries out its mission.”

The National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations® program requires community foundations to document their policies for donor services, investments, grantmaking and administration. With more than 500 community foundations accredited nationwide, the program is designed to provide quality assurance to donors as well as their legal and financial advisors.

“When people establish a charitable fund, they are putting their trust in us,” said Marla Williams, president and CEO of the Community First Foundation.  “They are counting on us to manage the investment wisely and honor their charitable wishes. The National Standards accreditation confirms our house is in order.”

Community First Foundation helps donors and nonprofits improve quality of life and create positive change in Jefferson County, the Denver metropolitan area and beyond. The Foundation serves as a connector, partner, collaborator and resource to fuel the power of community for the greater good and act as the cornerstone of the largest online giving movement in the state.

The Foundation is constantly working to discover more ways to get more people excited and engaged. Its charitable funds allow donors to advance a cause, support an individual organization, provide flexible support for community needs or recommend individual grants. In addition to affirming the organization’s philanthropic services, the accreditation validates Community First Foundation’s grantmaking practices for the nonprofit community.

“Grantmaking is a form of investing,” said Williams. “We need to assess risks, weigh potential gains, diversify assets, monitor performance and operate fairly. With our National Standards accreditation, you can be assured that we’re doing just that.”

National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations® is the first program of its kind for charitable foundations in the United States.

About National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations
The Community Foundations National Standards Board is a supporting organization of the Council on Foundations and is responsible for the quality, value and integrity of compliance with National Standards. For more information on the National Standards Board, visit its website at www.cfstandards.org.