03 Mar Northern Indiana Community Foundation Receives National Recognition
The Northern Indiana Community Foundation recently received accreditation with the nation’s highest standard for philanthropic excellence. Community Foundations National Standards® establish legal, ethical, effective practices for community foundations everywhere.
“Meeting the National Standards benchmarks is a rigorous, comprehensive process,” said Susie Nelson, board chair of National Standards. “This accreditation is a significant accomplishment that indicates the Northern Indiana Community Foundation demonstrates a commitment to transparency, quality, integrity and accountability as it carries out its mission.”
The Community Foundations National Standards® 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.
“Accreditation through National Standards provides donors assurance that the Community Foundation is following best practices and making best use of donations,” said Fulton County Director of Development, Brian Johnson. “Our goal is to ensure that donor contributions are used to support community needs as directed by the donor. This accreditation offers an independent review and confirmation that we are honoring those wishes in the best way possible.”
The Northern Indiana Community Foundation works to meet critical community needs through supporting local organizations like the Kewanna Food Pantry, Fulton County 4-H, Compassionate Health Center, and many more.
The Foundation 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.
Grant making is one of the most powerful ways we can invest on our community’s future,” said Corinne Becknell Lucas, incoming NICF Executive Director. “By providing funding to local nonprofits and initiatives, we help strengthen vital programs, empower leaders, and create lasting chance. Every grant represents an opportunity to address pressing needs, foster innovation, and build a more vibrant and resilient community for generations to come.”
Community Foundations National Standards® is the first program of its kind for charitable foundations in the United States.