A Community Foundation is a collection of individual funds and resources given by residents to enhance and support the quality of life in their community. It is a tax exempt public charity that allows many individuals, through gifts and bequests, to establish permanent endowment funds within the confines of one large foundation. The income from these separate funds- and the principal if the donor desires- can help a community respond to emerging problems and opportunities, as well as prepare for its future.

Community foundations make grants to qualified nonprofit organizations which are active in maintaining the educational, health, human service, social, cultural, environmental and civic resources of the county. The foundation professionally manages and distributes income from charitable gifts and bequests in a manner consistent with the donor's specific and general interests. Finally, community foundations provide philanthropic leadership and help create and promote efforts among residents to improve the quality of life in the community.

Dade Community Foundation generally serves Miami-Dade County. Several donors, however, have interests elsewhere which they fund through the community foundation.

Donors to community foundations range from people of relatively modest means to those with large financial resources. By establishing a fund or donating to an existing fund within a community foundation, donors can contribute their gifts of cash and appreciated property toward a permanent named endowment. This enables their contributions to have a long-term impact that will continue to meet community needs over time. Many donors are interested in planned giving and have Dade Community Foundation in their charitable remainder trust.

Dade Community Foundation donors are people with a strong sense of community and personal commitment to making a significant contribution to the communities in which they live. Some donors tell us that the resources we bring to weighing the unique contributions of organizations seeking support is an important feature for them. They want to support worthwhile causes in their communities, and Dade Community Foundation can help them find the best way to commit their funds. Other donors appreciate the speed, flexibility, and ease of using a Community Foundation. Because the legal apparatus is already in place, existing forms are available so that a fund literally can be established, and the tax advantages obtained in a very short time. Donors also appreciate the opportunities for a long-term giving , providing opportunities to improve the quality of life in Miami-Dade County communities now and for future generations.

A governing board of trustees comprised of individuals who are representative of Miami-Dade County.

Dade Community Foundation is completely autonomous and decisions are made locally. The Foundation is a member of the Council on Foundations and can use the Council as a resource on policy, legal, and tax questions. There are nearly 550 Community Foundations nationally and they are the fastest growing instrument of planned giving in the United States. The first community foundation was founded in 1914. Dade Community Foundation was established in 1967.

Since 1967 we have been granting to non profit organizations addressing the full range of issues. This includes the areas of education, health, human resources, arts & culture, environment, economic development, and social justice. In addition, Field of Interest and special funding initiatives enable us to conduct significant grant making that addresses abused and neglected children, immigrants and refugees, AIDS, homelessness, intragroup relations, and affordable housing.