California-based new and emerging community foundations seeking to participate in the Growing Community Foundations Program must meet the following criteria:

• Established to serve a defined geographic area in the state where community foundation services currently are not fully accessible.



• 501(c)(3) and 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) public charities tax status confirmed or in process.



• Board of Directors established and officers elected.



• Minimum of a part-time volunteer executive director or person designated as coordinator until an executive director is appointed.



• Demonstrated understanding of, and commitment to, establishing a philanthropic organization which meets the Council on Foundations' definition of a community foundation (public support test, have broadly representative governing body, operate primarily as a grantmaking institution, with broad grants program and permanent collection of named funds).



• Agreement to conduct itself in a way consistent with the Statement of Mission, Goals, Principles, and Values of the League.



• In those cases where a new community foundation is in the service area of a League member organization, the emerging foundation's inclusion in the program would occur only with the endorsement of that member.



• Inclusion in the GCFP will be based on an initial assessment of readiness. As a general rule, League staff will meet with the key leadership of the new organization to determine the appropriateness and timeliness for participation in the program.

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