Hillsdale, MI, August 31, 2021–
The Hillsdale County Community Foundation recently received notification that it has again met the nation’s highest philanthropic standards for operational quality, integrity and accountability. The notice comes from the Council on Foundations, a national professional association based in Washington, D.C.
The National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations® (National Standards) is an accreditation program created by community foundations for community foundations. They are peer-driven, voluntary, and self-regulatory. National Standards requires foundations to document their policies for donor services, investments, grant making and administration. The program is designed to provide quality assurance to donors, as well as to their legal and financial advisors. Accreditation for National Standards is training for board and staff and provides evidence that the foundation works to be stable and legally sound.
“Having this certification is essential to our organization,” said Sharon Bisher, HCCF President. “When people make a charitable bequest, establish a fund or make a donation to our organization, they are putting their trust in us. They are counting on us to manage the investment wisely, honor their charitable wishes and enable them to support the causes that matter the most to them. The National Standards reconfirmation process demonstrates our ability to do this effectively and with the highest level of accountability.”
HCCF offers a range of charitable funds, allowing donors to advance a cause such as education or human services, support local organizations, provide flexible support for community needs or recommend individual grants. In addition to affirming the organization’s philanthropic services, the reconfirmation validates HCCF’s grant making practices for the nonprofit community.
This is the fourth time the Foundation has met these standards. The first accreditation was met in 2002 and have maintained their accreditation ever since. “The world of philanthropy is constantly changing,” stated Bisher. “This level of accountability assures us that we are adapting to the latest changes in both trends, IRS rulings and tax laws. Our community can be assured we are maintaining the highest level of excellence for them.”
The Hillsdale County Community Foundation was established in 1991 “For good. For ever.” As a community grant-making foundation, it provides seed money to organizations and institutions that have identified problems and have designed constructive action programs aimed at solutions. A majority of the Foundation’s grant making is focused on the areas of youth, leadership, philanthropy and volunteerism.
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Contact:
Caitlin Sterling, Marketing/YOUTH Program Officer
Hillsdale County Community Foundation
(517) 439-5101, c.sterling@abouthccf.org