A community foundation is a tax-exempt public charity that helps people like you accomplish your philanthropic goals through a named charitable fund. The funds are managed professionally and endowed assets will grow over time.  There are over 600 community foundations in the United States.

What differentiates a community foundation from other forms of organized philanthropy? Three features:

• Personalized service - we help individuals and families achieve their charitable and financial goals by offering tools and resources that make giving easy, flexible, and effective.
• Local expertise - we have a knowledge of the issues, needs, and players that allows us to help you make your giving as effective as possible.
• Community leadership - we act as a community catalyst, bringing diverse voices and groups together to address issues, fostering greater giving and supporting high impact opportunities.

The Winston-Salem Foundation has been recognized for having organizational and financial practices that are in accordance with the National Standards for the U.S. Community Foundations.  The Council on Foundations (www.cof.org) and leaders of the community foundation field created the National Standards in 2000 to aid community foundations in establishing legal, ethical, and effective operational practices that would show the foundations' transparency and financial responsibility in light of the increased public scrutiny of foundation practices.