Local Organization Accredited with Rigorous Philanthropic Standards

Waldorf, MD —Community Foundation of Southern Maryland recently received 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 Hugh Ralston, Chair of the Community Foundations National Standards Board. “This accreditation is a significant accomplishment that says Community Foundation of Southern Maryland has demonstrated a commitment to quality, integrity and accountability.”
The National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations™ program requires community foundations to document their policies for donor services, investments, grantmaking and administration. With over 400, out of the 700 and some, 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 Gretchen Hardman Community Foundation of Southern Maryland’s
Executive Director. “When people make a charitable bequest or establish an endowed or pass thru fund, they are putting their trust in us. They are counting on us to manage the investment wisely, honor their charitable wishes and provide their lifetime income to their favorite charities or most pressing needs. The National Standards accreditation says our foundation is in order.”

Community Foundation of Southern Maryland works to meet critical community needs and support local causes, including arts and culture, education and scholarships, environment, general community improvements like transportation, housing and recreation; health and wellness and youth initiatives.

Community Foundation of Southern Maryland 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 Community Foundation of Southern Maryland’s grantmaking practices for the nonprofit community.

“Grantmaking is a lot like investing,” said Ellen Flowers Fields, Community Foundation of Southern Maryland’s
Chair of the Board. “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.”

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

Through philanthropic services, strategic investments and community leadership, Community Foundation of Southern Maryland helps people support the causes they care about, now and for generations to come. To contact the Community Foundation of Southern Maryland call 240.216.8452, email gretchen@cfsomd.org or go to www.cfsomd.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.

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