Where it all began: the origins of community foundations
We have come a long way since our humble beginnings. The first community foundation originated in 1914. It was the brainchild of Cleveland, Ohio lawyer, Frederick Harris Goff, who was concerned about philanthropic gifts which had outlived their original purposes. His idea was to develop charitable endowments that would be flexible enough to respond to changing community needs.
Thanks to Mr Goff and many other good ancestors, the community foundation network now has 2000 community foundations across the globe and have been in action for over a century. We are dedicated to building community philanthropy locally by raising and giving funds now and building an endowment for the future to support changing community needs and the next generation.
Our funding ensures that local communities can directly affect the issues impacting them and donors have the benefit of seeing the impact of their giving on their doorstep. In fact on average very few people live more than 20 minutes away from a community foundation funded activity.
Northamptonshire Community Foundation can work with you to help make a difference to communities right on your doorstep. We will work with you to understand what inspires you and help guide your giving journey. We manage funds and donations, supporting hundreds of initiatives every year, tackling some of the toughest social issues in the county. Whether you want to establish a fund with us, make a one-off donation, or develop a legacy programme in memory of a loved one, we are able to work with you to bring your giving to life.