IPCF Receives National Recognition

Local Organization Accredited with Rigorous Philanthropic Standards

Illinois Prairie Community Foundation (IPCF) recently received re-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 Illinois Prairie Community Foundation 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. With more than 500 community foundations already accredited nationwide, 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 Greg Meyer, IPCF executive director. “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 our house is in order.”

IPCF works to meet critical community needs and support local causes, including from supporting the arts and women’s causes to fostering literacy and expanding health care for low-income residents.

IPCF 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 IPCF’s grantmaking practices for the nonprofit community.

“Grantmaking is a lot like investing,” said Laura Kowalczyk, IPCF board chair. “We need to assess risks, weigh potential gains, diversify assets, monitor performance and operate fairly. With our National Standards accreditation, you can be assured that we’re doing just that.” IPCF initially received National Standards accreditation in 2005, earning re-accreditation status every three years.

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

Illinois Prairie Community Foundation, now in its 25th year, encourages and facilitates philanthropy in McLean, DeWitt, Livingston and Logan counties by connecting donors who care with causes that matter to them. The Foundation manages funds including endowments and donor advised, fiscal sponsorship and scholarship funds. More information is available at www.ilprairiecf.org.

The Community Foundations National Standards Board is a supporting organization of the Council on Foundations and is responsible for the quality, value and integrity of compliance with National Standards. For more information on the National Standards Board, visit its website at www.cfstandards.org.