Accreditations

The Community Foundation of Sarasota County is an accredited 501(c)(3) organization serving the communities of Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties. Over our 40-year history, we have taken careful steps to ensure our relationships with the community are grounded in trust, reliability, and stability, and that we are performing at the highest standards for philanthropic excellence.

To ensure we are meeting these national standards of excellence, the Community Foundation is accredited by the National Standards for Community Foundations and Charity Navigator.

The National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations® exemplifies the highest standards of operational excellence and integrity in community philanthropy. Executed with rigor and expertise, the accreditation process was initiated by the sector and remains a peer-driven effort that ensures accountability and compliance above and beyond legal requirements. 

We are also a proud member of Philanthropy Southeast, which provides members with unique opportunities to increase and sustain the impact of their charitable investments by utilizing a diverse network to serve one common goal — changing lives and transforming communities through effective, meaningful philanthropy. 

We are one of more than 750 community foundations in the U.S. and Canada and are part of the fastest growing sector of American philanthropy. Tax-deductible gifts and bequests make up the permanent endowment of community foundations. Annual income from investment of that endowment is used to match donors' charitable interests with community needs through grants and scholarships. Each community foundation is governed by a board of directors made up of respected volunteer business and civic leaders chosen to represent the diversity of the population.