What is National Standards?
The National Standards Community Foundation
accreditation program helps demonstrate that a
community foundation is well-run and resultsorientated, while also delineating criteria that help
define what community foundations are and do.
There are more than 500 accredited community
foundations in 49 states.
96% of the nation’s largest community foundations
participate in the National Standards program.
Revised National Standards
Meeting the Definition of a Community Foundation
 A community foundation is a tax-exempt, nonprofit,
autonomous, nonsectarian philanthropic institution
supported by the public with the long-term goals of:
 Building permanent, component funds established by many
separate donors to carry out their charitable interests;
 Supporting the broad-based charitable interests and
benefitting the residents of a defined geographic area,
typically no larger than a state; and
 Serving in leadership roles on important community issues.
Revised National Standards
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Structure and Governance
An independent Board that Reflects the Community
Foundation Control over Component Funds
Advance the Foundation’s Mission, Strategy, and
Policies
A Board and Staff that is Responsible for Operational
Health
A Board that Approves and Monitors Policies and
Grants
Revised National Standards
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Structure and Governance (continued)
A Board that is Independent
Board and CEO Compensation
The Board Demonstrated Legal and Fiduciary Control
Privacy and Confidentiality
Revised National Standards
Resource Development And Grantmaking
 A Board and Staff Actively Developing Broad Support
 The Board Secures Discretionary Resources
 The Board Oversees Diverse Grantmaking
 The Board’s Discretionary Grants Respond to
Community Needs
 The Community Foundation Oversees Grantmaking
Due Diligence
Revised National Standards
Accountability
 A Board with Oversight and Control of Geographic
Affiliates
 Foundation Provides Gift Acknowledgement and Fund
Statement for Donors
 The Board Oversees Advocacy and Lobbying Activities
 A Board Oversees Fund Management and Financial
Records
Revised National Standards
Accountability (Continued)
 The Board is Accountable and Transparent about
Programs and Finances
 The Foundation Maintains Fund Records
 Board and Staff Honors Donor Intent and Law
 The Board Has and Makes Public the Annual Audit
Revised National Standards
Community Engagement
 The Board Displays Community Leadership
 The Board Oversees Social Media and
Communications
History
 CFGRB passed National Standards in 2005
 Reconfirmation in 2011
 Another reconfirmation in 2016
Why does it matter?
 Evidence of Excellence
 Endow Iowa
 Review and reconsideration of policies and operations
 Relevance and clarity
 Affiliates
Confidentiality and Privacy Policy
Key Elements
Who must comply with the policy?
 Members of the board (required)
 Employees (required)
 Volunteers, including members of committees
(good practice)
 Contractors, including consultants (good
practice)
Confidentiality and Privacy Policy
Key Elements
There are no specific requirements for the content of a policy that meets National Standards.
However, good practices suggest that a confidentiality policy should address these issues:
 General rule – all information deemed confidential
 Information about donors and prospective donors
 Identity, gift amounts, nature of gift
 Any exceptions to non-disclosure such as annual report
 Are donors within an exception deemed to consent if they have not specifically requested
otherwise?
 Anonymity – who will know the donor’s identity?
 Information about grantees and prospective grantees including both organizations and
individuals
 Information about the foundation
 Finances
 Fundraising
 Investments including performance of investment managers
 Personnel
 Internal discussions
 Grants and contracts
 Board discussions, including positions taken by individual board members
Confidentiality and Privacy Policy
What changed from the previous version?
Our current policy was from 2005 and did not clearly
cover all the necessary aspects. The proposed policy is
more comprehensive.
 Foundation Business
 Contractual Relationships
 Personnel
 Financial Operations
 Internal Discussions
Social Media Policy
Key Elements
 At a minimum covers employees
 Prohibits unauthorized postings
 Sets out guidelines for personal posts including a
prohibition on posting confidential information
 Provides for reporting violations and disciplinary
action
Social Media Policy
What changed from the previous version?
This was previously a guideline and not a policy. It was
updated to be in a policy format. This policy was
submitted for approval at the last Board meeting. It
has since been updated to include more language on
monitoring, reporting violations and discipline for
violations.
Conflict of Interest Policy & Disclosure Form
Key Elements
 Policies to identify and address perceived, potential,
and actual conflicts.
 Application of policies to board members, staff and
committee members.
 Procedures for handling disclosures of conflicts
 Evidence of disclosures of conflicts of interest are
provided for board members, staff and committee
members.
 Policy may apply to other volunteers, contractors and
consultants, but this is optional.
Conflict of Interest Policy & Disclosure Form
What changed from the previous version?
The policy was updated for clarity, language and to
match our other policy formats. The Disclosure Form
now includes that the signer is agreeing to adhere to
the Code of Ethics and Conduct and the
Confidentiality and Privacy Policy.
CFGRB Policy on Endowed Funds
What changed from the previous version?
The information in this policy previously existed in
two separate policies. They were combined for clarity
and edited for language that was not acceptable with
National Standards. Reference to nonprofits being able
to request the return of their endowment was
removed.
Due Diligence Policies and
Procedures for Grantmaking
Key Elements
 Description of the process for ensuring that the grant will be
used for charitable purposes consistent with the nature of the
grant and the nature of the fund from which the grant is made.
 A process for determining which grants from funds legally
defined as donor advised funds require the exercise of
expenditure responsibility.
 A policy or procedure for exercising expenditure responsibility
when required for grants from funds legally defined as donor
advised.
Due Diligence Policies and
Procedures for Grantmaking
What changed from the previous version?
Although we had a policy and procedures in place for
grant due diligence, we updated and expanded the
policy to be more detailed in order to meet the
National Standards requirements.
Grant Agreements
Key Elements
 Use of grant funds
 Certification and maintenance of exempt status
 Reports
 Records
 Publicity
 Return of unspent or misused grant funds
Grant Agreements
What changed from the previous versions?
Per National Standards, the format of our grant agreements
need to be approved by the Board. Written signed
agreements are used for grants requiring expenditure
responsibility. These agreements were already in use,
although they were updated to include restrictions on
funds for lobbying. Written signed agreements are also
used for complex grants such as our 2015 Leadership
Grants. For the remainder of our grants, letters sent to
grantees serve as the grant agreement by containing certain
language required by National Standards that they agree to
by accepting the check.
Gift Acceptance Policy
What changed from the previous version?
The policy was updated to change the amount of time
an Acorn fund has to reach the fund minimum. It was
previously ten years and this policy changes it to five
years.
Affiliate Portability Policy
What changed from the previous version?
The previous version of this policy was written with
Iowa affiliates in mind with a focus on Endow Iowa
legislation. This proposed policy is in agreement with
the RPS and MOU that is being prepared for affiliates.
Fund Information
The Fund Information is used in tandem with the Fund
Applications to serve as our fund agreements with donors.
Donors sign the Fund Application to acknowledge receipt
of the Fund Information. It summarizes policies and
procedures and is meant to answer common questions for
our fundholders.
Fund Information
What changed from the previous version?
It has been updated with a procedure for when advisors
for a donor advised fund legally separate or divorce.
Language about non-endowed organizations funds was
removed since we are no longer opening those funds.
Reference to nonprofits being able to request the return
of their endowment was removed, per National
Standards. Other minor changes were made for
clarification. Language regarding investment managers
is also being removed in anticipation of Investment
Committee changes.
Questions?