Community Foundation of Madison & Jefferson County, Inc. Receives National Recognition

Local Organization Accredited with Rigorous Philanthropic Standards

Madison, IN — The Community Foundation of Madison & Jefferson County, Inc. (CFMJC) recently received accreditation with the nation’s highest standard for philanthropic excellence. National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations® establish legal, ethical, effective practices for community foundations everywhere.

“Meeting the National Standards benchmarks is a rigorous, comprehensive process,” said Randy Royster, former board member of the Council on Foundations. “This accreditation is a significant accomplishment that indicates CFMJC 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 approximately 450 community foundations already actively accredited nationwide, and approximately 550 participating, the program is designed to provide quality assurance to donors, as well as to their legal and financial advisors

“This is critically important to our donors,” said Bill Barnes, CFMJC President & CEO. “When people make a charitable bequest or establish a fund, they are putting their trust in us. They are counting on us to manage the investment wisely, honor their charitable wishes and, in some cases, provide lifetime income to a loved one. The National Standards accreditation says our house is in order.”

CFMJC works to meet critical community needs and support local causes, including supporting the arts, community development, preservation, and youth education and development, to name a few.

CFMJC offers a range of charitable funds, allowing 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 CFMJC’s grantmaking practices for the nonprofit community.

“Grantmaking is a lot like investing,” said Stephanie Withered, CFMJC Board Chair. “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.

Established in 1991, the Community Foundation of Madison and Jefferson County, Inc. fulfills the mission of building a strong, vibrant community by helping donors provide perpetual funding for the people, projects, and passions of Jefferson County.

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