Introduction
Community foundations sit at the heart of civic life. They connect donors with causes, mobilize resources, and convene partners to tackle complex social issues. In 2023 alone, community foundations collectively managed $152 billion in assets and distributed $19 billion in grants. With donor-advised funds (DAFs) representing nearly one-third of total assets, these institutions carry enormous responsibility for ensuring every dollar achieves measurable impact. Yet despite their promise, many community foundations struggle to sustain collaborative coalitions that turn vision into results. Donor confidence is increasingly tied not only to financial stewardship but also to the ability to demonstrate systemic, lasting change. This is where Certified Performance Improvement Facilitators (CPIFs) can play a transformative role. Grounded in ten internationally recognized standards, CPIF professionals help community foundations overcome fragmentation, build trust, and create outcomes that inspire donors and strengthen communities.
Why Community Foundations Succeed — and Why They Fail
When They Succeed
High-performing community foundations succeed because they:
- Align vision with strategy: They convene stakeholders to create a shared agenda grounded in local needs.
- Embed accountability: They measure progress transparently and course-correct as needed.
- Build coalitions that last: They invest in trust, cultural sensitivity, and shared ownership of outcomes.
- Earn donor confidence: By demonstrating tangible results, they create a reinforcing cycle of investment and credibility.
When They Fail
Failure is often not about lack of money or ideas. It stems from structural and process issues:
- No shared vision or unclear goals leave partners working at cross-purposes.
- Power imbalances and low trust stall collaboration.
- Inconsistent commitment leads to short-lived coalitions.
- Weak facilitation and sprawling meetings waste energy.
- Fragmented data obscures impact.
- Short-term funding without sustainability planning undercuts momentum.
- Limited community voice erodes legitimacy.
- Cross-sector culture clashes create friction.
- Mission creep and scope bloat dilute resources.
- Policy headwinds and leadership turnover disrupt progress.
The Opportunity Cost of Under-Performance
Under-performing coalitions represent enormous lost opportunities. Consider the scale:
- A regional coalition investing $10 million annually in education and workforce initiatives that loses just 10% effectiveness through weak facilitation wastes $1 million every year. That lost value could fund 200 industry credentials or 1,000 FAFSA completions.
- Nationally, with $54.92 billion in donor-advised fund assets (2023), even a 1% execution shortfall equals $500 million annually in unrealized community benefit.
The Role of Leaders and Boards
Community foundation CEOs and boards play a critical role in shaping collaborative coalitions. Their responsibilities include:
- Setting the tone for collaboration: Leaders model transparency and inclusivity, while boards reinforce the value of partnerships.
- Investing in process, not just programs: Funding facilitation and coalition infrastructure is essential to avoid burnout and fragmentation.
- Sustaining momentum: Boards can anchor initiatives beyond leadership transitions by embedding coalitions into strategy.
- Adopting CPIF practices: Leaders and trustees who embrace CPIF principles ensure that facilitation is professionalized, not improvised.
Case Studies: Community Foundations Driving Education & Career Preparation
- Cleveland Foundation – Launched Say Yes to Education Cleveland, a comprehensive coalition providing scholarships and wraparound services. CPIF-aligned facilitation ensured alignment among schools, nonprofits, and local government.
- Silicon Valley Community Foundation – Partnered with regional employers to build STEM pipelines and workforce pathways. Strong facilitation balanced donor expectations with industry needs.
- Boston Foundation – Through its Success Boston initiative, the foundation convened colleges, nonprofits, and public agencies to double postsecondary completion rates for graduates of Boston Public Schools.
- Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta – Championed Learn4Life, a cradle-to-career collaborative tracking shared educational metrics across multiple counties. A CPIF approach helped sustain cross-sector trust.
- Chicago Community Trust – Its Partnership for College Completion addresses equity gaps in higher education. Coalition structures reflect CPIF competencies like systemic analysis and accountability monitoring.
CPIF Standards as a Solution Framework
The ten CPIF competencies map directly to the ten most common challenges faced by community foundations:
Community Foundation Challenge
No shared vision / unclear goals
Power imbalances & low trust
Inconsistent partner commitment
Weak facilitation / meeting sprawl
Fragmented or incompatible data
Short-term funding / no sustainability
Limited community voice
Cross-sector culture clashes
Mission creep / scope bloat
Policy headwinds & turnover
Relevant CPIF Competency
Analyze & Apply Critical Judgment
Demonstrate Organizational Sensitivity
Guide & Focus Collaborative Improvement
Facilitate Meaning & Engagement
Plan & Record
Implement for Sustainability
Build Capacity
Demonstrate Organizational Sensitivity
Focus on Systemic Factors
Organize & Manage Resources
This framework makes clear that every common barrier to coalition success has a direct solution through CPIF facilitation.
Economic Scan of Community Foundations*
- Assets: $152 billion+ managed across U.S. foundations
- Grants: $19 billion disbursed in 2023
- Donor Advised Funds: 30% of all reported assets, 47% of all fundraising dollars, and 57% of all grants deployed
- Performance: ~90% of foundations reported asset growth in 2023, with endowments averaging 14.1% investment returns after the 2022 downturn
Why CPIF Matters Now
Community foundations stand at an inflection point. Donors expect evidence of impact. Communities need systemic solutions. Foundations themselves must prove they are more than grant makers—they are catalysts for lasting change. CPIF-certified facilitators offer the tools to:
- Move coalitions from talk to action
- Align diverse stakeholders on shared goal
- Establish transparent accountability frameworks
- Build resilience against leadership transitions and policy shif
- Ensure sustainability of results long after initial funding
Conclusion
Community foundations are uniquely positioned to lead cross-sector coalitions that transform communities. Yet their ability to succeed depends less on money alone and more on how they convene, facilitate, and sustain collaboration. The Certified Performance Improvement Facilitator (CPIF) model provides the missing skill set that ensures coalitions deliver outcomes, not just meetings. By embedding CPIF standards into leadership, board practice, and coalition processes, community foundations can:
- Maximize donor investments
- Achieve measurable community impact
- Build lasting trust and confidence among donors and stakeholders