Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a community foundation?

A community foundation is a tax-exempt public charity that manages a group of funds established by individuals, families, businesses, and organizations. The foundation makes grants from these funds for the long-term benefit of the Greensboro community.

Why partner with the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro?​
  • We have a proven track record of making a difference. Since our founding in 1983, we have granted over $330 million to hundreds of local nonprofits addressing important community challenges.
  • We have a clear vision for helping you achieve your philanthropic goals. At CFGG, we live by the phrase “donor intent”. Each of our 700 funds has a donor or donors behind it with a story that informs how we distribute each and every grant into the community.
  • Our roots in the community run deep. No one knows Greensboro or believes in its potential like we do, and we marshall resources to improve the lives of all its citizens.

The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro offers great flexibility in the kind of fund you can establish and in the level of involvement you desire.

  • Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) allow you to be actively involved in deciding how your charitable dollars are distributed.
  • Community Grantmaking Funds leave those decisions to the Community Foundation’s program experts, who determine how best to use your gift to meet specific community needs. 

Minimums can vary by the type of fund you choose to open. For more information about establishing a fund, please contact Cathy Knowles at cknowles@cfgg.org.

The overall, long-term investment objective of the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro is to:

  1. Achieve an annualized total return through appreciation and income (net of investment management fees and expenses) that is greater than the rate of inflation (as measured by the broad, domestic Consumer Price Index), 

  2.  Plus 5%, which protects fund assets against inflation. 

    In other words, today’s endowment contributions will be prudently invested, provide an annual funding stream, and at a minimum maintain purchasing power in perpetuity.

CFGG’s Investment Committee works with an independent investment advisor, Brown Brothers Harriman, for investment management and oversight of our portfolio. In addition, for charitable funds with a minimum balance of $500,000, you have the option of utilizing your own investment advisor or choosing from any ot the other Direct Asset Managers we work with on behalf of our fundholders”

  • Wells Fargo
  • Merrill Lynch
  • Pinnacle Wealth Management
  • Diversified Trust
  • Schwab
  • Oppenheimer
  • Piedmont Trust

For additional information about your investment management options and CFGG’s investment practices, please contact Marci Peace, mpeace@cfgg.org. 

You can find a full list of our funds in the Annual Report.

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