Community Foundation of the Lowcountry

Celebrate Charitable Giving During Community Foundation Week

The Community Foundation of the Lowcountry is Helping our Community

November 12, 2009 NOVEMBER 12–18 -- The Community Foundation of the Lowcountry will join more than 700 community foundations across the United States in celebrating charitable giving during Community Foundation Week, November 12-18, 2009.

Locally, the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry with its more than 200 funds has invested more than $28 million over the last 15 years, to a variety of nonprofit organizations in fields that include the arts, community development, education, environment, and health and human services.

"Community foundations are at the heart of our cities and towns. We know the places of need in our area, and we can direct resources to address current issues," said Denise K. Spencer, President and CEO. "Here at the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry donors can explore and attain their charitable dreams, nonprofits can seek support, and the community can come together to work on diverse issues. We aspire to fulfill our mission of connecting people, resources and needs each and every day."

Community foundations are one of the fastest-growing forms of philanthropy in the United States, with total assets of more than $50 billion. In 2007, community foundations gave an estimated $4.1 billion. Every state in the U.S. is home to at least one community foundation. Although community foundations make up only one percent of all U.S. grantmaking foundations, they account for more than nine percent of all foundation giving. While the community and clients each foundation serves vary greatly, every community foundation shares in the commitment of improving the lives of others.

"Community foundations are catalysts for positive change within both urban and rural areas," said Steve Gunderson, president and CEO of the Council on Foundations. "Donors of all income levels and from all geographic regions are finding community foundations to be an ideal way for them to easily give back to their community in a meaningful way."

Across the nation, community foundations help create stronger hometowns where families want to establish roots, with recreational parks, social service programs and scholarship opportunities for promising local students.

Community Foundation Week began in 1989 with a proclamation from former president George H.W. Bush and a congressional briefing about community foundation activities. The observance has made donors seeking to maximize their philanthropic dollars aware of community foundations' charitable activities and services. For more information on the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, please call 843.681.9100 or visit www.cf-lowcountry.org

Community Foundation of the Lowcountry
Founded in 1994, the mission of the community foundation is to strengthen community by connecting people, resources, and needs. In the years since inception, the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry and its family of funds have grown through additional gifts and investments and provided more than $28 million in grants to support local nonprofits. In addition to grantmaking, the community foundation focuses on assisting donors to meet their philanthropic goals and acts as a convener of resources to address community concerns. In July 2001, the community foundation expanded to serve residents in Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper counties. For more information, visit our website at www.cf-lowcountry.org.

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