The National Standards Seal by our name indicates official confirmation from the Council on Foundations that we have met the highest standards in philanthropy. It affirms our commitment to go above and beyond federal and state law requirements to demonstrate excellence and accountability. The National Standards Seal also confirms our history of honoring donors’ wishes as we work together to address the changing needs of our community.
To receive accreditation with National Standards, the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation submitted our policies and procedures to a rigorous peer review of 26 National Standards in six key areas of community foundation operations, including donor services, investment management, grantmaking and administration.
The National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations Program was established in 2000 in cooperation with the Council on Foundations. National Standards guide community foundations in establishing legal, ethical and effective operational practices that serve as blueprints for internal development and benchmarks for external assessment.
