Vermont Community Foundation

ABOUT The Vermont Community Foundation was established in 1986 as a permanent source of support for the state. We are a family of hundreds of funds and foundations created by Vermonters to serve their charitable goals. We provide the advice, investment vehicles, and back-office expertise to make your giving easy and inspiring. Together, our funds and programs provide more than $12 million a year in grants in Vermont and beyond. Community foundations in the United States are public charities serving people who share a common interest—improving the quality of life in their area. Individuals, families, businesses, and organizations create permanent charitable funds that help their region meet the challenges of changing times. Community foundations invest and administer these funds. This little video makes it easy to understand what we do: What is a Community Foundation, which was produced for us by Embolden. All community foundations are overseen by a volunteer board of citizens that works toward the greater good of the community. Please watch Imagine What's Possible, our own video series that gives you a real sense of what we are all about. The first community foundation was established in 1914 by a Cleveland banker and today nearly 700 community foundations in the United States administer more than $31 billion in charitable funds and address the core concerns of the communities they serve. And worldwide, there are more than 1,800 place-based foundations are empowering people to address local challenges and opportunities. Community foundations are designated "tax-exempt public charities" rather than "private foundations" because they raise a significant portion of their resources from a broad cross-section of the public each year. OUR MISSION Better Together: Inspiring Giving and bringing together people and resources to make a difference in Vermont. OUR VISION Vermont at its best; Vermonters at their best. What do we mean by best? - Vermonters look out for each other. - Vermonters have equal access to opportunity. - Vermonters understand and respect each other. - Vermonters live in balance with the environment. - Vermonters engage in civic life. - Vermonters are healthy, inspired, and feel and sense of potential. OUR CORE VALUES We are a nimble organization. We approach our work with curiosity, respect, and integrity. We believe in collaboration, equity, and diversity. We reflect the joy of giving.