Community Foundations

The Nurse-Family Partnership pairs nurses with first time moms for over two years of mentoring.

Community Foundations make up one of the fastest growing sectors of philanthropy in the United States today. They build and strengthen communities by making it possible for a wide range of donors to create permanent, named component funds to meet the needs of the community. There are nearly 700 community foundations throughout the United States today – holding $39.4 billion in assets. In 2004, community foundations gave more than $3 billion to a wide variety of nonprofit activities, including urban affairs, the arts, education, environmental projects, health and disaster relief.

A community foundation is the collection of many types of funds and/or contributions from individuals, families, businesses and organizations that have a desire to address local needs. In other words, it is an endowment – a permanent pool of money that benefits a geographic area today and tomorrow.

The Foundation enables people to create a permanent gift to the community, a gift which can change to meet future needs and can be used where it will do the most good. Donors receive the maximum tax advantages and public recognition as well as the opportunity to specify the purposes for which their donations may be used.

The favorable tax status of community foundations is attractive to individual and corporate donors who wish to give a permanent gift. The coordinated efforts of community leaders and citizens can ensure that our visions for the future are realized.

The Central Susquehanna Community Foundation was established in June of 2003 to ensure long-term, stable funding so our community can continue to flourish now and into the future. It is the community foundation for Columbia, lower-Luzerne, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder and Union counties.

With approximately $30 million in assets, the Central Susquehanna Community Foundation is the 6th largest community foundation in Pennsylvania. It was established with the Berwick Health and Wellness Fund as its major component fund, with the intention to build upon this and develop numerous other funds to serve a variety of needs and interests in the community. Currently, the foundation has 12 component funds.

Community Foundations Fact Sheet Council on Foundations, October 2005.