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Tab 33: Evidence of Donor Education and Participation

The community foundation submits evidence of donor education. Such evidence could include samples of invitations to events where donors have the opportunity to learn about the foundation, such as an annual meeting, seminars, fundraisers, etc. The foundation also submits evidence of donor participation. Examples might include guest lists from educational events, a printout of an electronic calendar showing meetings with donors, and letters from donors responding to educational events.

For more information, review Core materials, FAQs and a glossary of important terms

Related Standards

VI. Donor Relations
VI.A A community foundation educates and engages donors in identifying and addressing community issues and grantmaking opportunities.

View all National Standards

Key Elements

Periodic communications between staff/board and donors regarding community issues and opportunities

A schedule of periodic meetings with donors

Evidence that information about grants made from unrestricted or field-of-interest funds is provided to donors

Examples of opportunities for donors to learn about or become involved in activities/experiences that provide exposure to community issues

Examples of donors responding to donor education activities and becoming involved in community issues and opportunities

Core Materials
FAQs
Glossary

Required Documents

Sample invitations to educational events to learn about the foundation
Printout of electronic calendar showing meetings with donors
Letters from donors responding to events

Our foundation is relatively new - do we have to meet every key element for evidence of donor education and participation to be in compliance with this standard?

The key elements listed above illustrate the kinds of information you should submit. Reviewers do not have to find examples of every key element in order to determine that your foundation is in compliance with the standard.

Discretionary funds
Grant funds distributed at the discretion of the community foundation and are not subject to donor restrictions.

Field of interest fund
A fund held by a community foundation that is used for a specific charitable purpose such as education or health research or a specific geographic area.

Grantee
A grant recipient.

Grants
The award of funds for charitable purposes.

Unrestricted fund
Funds that allow the Foundation to determine where grants will do the most good. Also called discretionary funds, they offer maximum flexibility to react to changing needs in the community.

Reconfirming?

Review all key elements and consider if your organization has made changes to your policies, powers or practices.

Pay special attention to key elements and core materials marked with and a . These represent minimum requirements for reconfirmation as well as Pension Protection Act requirements. Items marked with a are particularly critical for those who submitted record books prior to January 2007.