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. Community Foundations National Standards® establish legal, ethical, effective practices for community foundations everywhere. 

The Community Foundations National Standards® program is a rigorous, comprehensive process that requires community foundations to document their policies for donor services, investments, grantmaking and administration. Receiving accreditation is a significant accomplishment that indicates CFMJC demonstrates a commitment to transparency, quality, integrity, and accountability as it carries out its mission. With over 500 community foundations already accredited nationwide, 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 and honor their charitable wishes forever. The National Standards accreditation says our house is in order.”

CFMJC works to meet critical community needs and support local causes, including the arts, community development, preservation, and youth education and development, to name a few. This is achieved by offering 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 Jenny Darnold, 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.”

Community Foundations National Standards® 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, Indiana.

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