COMMUNITY FOUNDATION MEETS EXCELLENCE IN PHILANTHROPY THROUGH NATIONAL STANDARDS

May 9, 2012 — The Community Foundation serving Howard, Carroll and Clinton Counties has achieved the Certificate of Standards Compliance with the Ethical and Operational Standards for Indiana Community Foundations. The standards are administered through the National Association of Council on Foundations to verify foundations demonstrate accountability, transparency and continuous self-improvement.

"This certification establishes a high level of operational integrity for us," said Ron Harper, executive director of the Foundation. "When donors, advisors, volunteers and the community look at a foundation as a place to give, the standards ensure all participants that we have met benchmarks for quality in operations and service. This is a re-certification for us and a comprehensive way to review our procedures."

To attain certification, the Foundation went through a rigorous process that ensures community foundations follow excellence in philanthropic practice.

The National Standards serve as a guide for internal organizational development and as a tangible benchmark for external assessment of performance. The standards address six key areas: mission, structure and governance; resource development; stewardship and accountability; grantmaking and community leadership; donor relations; and communications.

The Community Foundation of Howard County, Inc. was formed as a not-for-profit public charity in March 1991. The Foundation seeks to serve donors and make grants to benefit the citizens of Howard County. For more information about the Community Foundation, contact Ron Harper or Hilda Burns at 765-454-7298 or ron@cfhoward.org and hilda@cfhoward.org. The Web site www.cfhoward.org contains information about making gifts to endowment funds, scholarships and grantmaking.