Community Foundation of the Lowcountry Receives National Recognition

Community Foundation of the Lowcountry recently received accreditation with the nation ’s highest standard for philanthropic excellence. National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations® establish legal, ethical, effective practices for community foundations everywhere.

“Meeting the National Standards benchmarks is a rigorous, comprehensive process, ” said Randy Royster, board member of the Council on Foundations. “This accreditation is a significant accomplishment that indicates Community Foundation of the Lowcountry demonstrates a commitment to transparency, quality, integrity and accountability as it carries out its mission. ”

The National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations® program requires community foundations to document their policies for donor services, investments, grantmaking and administration. The program is designed to provide quality assurance to donors, as well as to their legal and financial advisors.

“This is critically important to our donors, ” said Denise K. Spencer, Community Foundation of
the Lowcountry president and CEO. “When people make a charitable bequest or establish a fund, they are putting their trust in us. They are counting on us to manage the investment wisely, honor their charitable wishes and, in some cases, provide lifetime income to a loved one. The National Standards accreditation says their trust is well-placed. ”

Community Foundation of the Lowcountry works to meet critical community needs and support local causes, including Project SAFE (Sewer Access for Everyone), the Public Art Exhibition and many local nonprofit organizations.

Additionally, Community Foundation of the Lowcountry offers a range of charitable funds, allowing donors to advance a cause, support an individual organization, provide flexible support for community needs or recommend individual grants. In addition to affirming the organization ’s philanthropic services, the accreditation validates the Foundation ’s grantmaking practices for the nonprofit community.

“Grantmaking is a lot like investing, ” Spencer said. “We need to assess risks, weigh potential gains, diversify assets, monitor performance and operate fairly and equitably. The accreditation process carefully reviews our work in these areas and more. We are proud that our own core values and operations align with National Standards. ”

National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations® is the first program of its kind for charitable foundations in the United States.