National and regional foundations frequently seek out local community foundations as partners in cooperative grantmaking initiatives.  Community foundations provide local credibility and knowledge that can be crucial to the long-term success of a grantmaking program.

In many cases, national or regional foundations may not be familiar with community foundations.  These local foundations face unique challenges as pubic charities that must raise funds and that function as a conveners and leaders on local civic issues.  The staff of Neithercut Philanthropy Advisors has 20 years of experience working with community foundations as a volunteer, senior executive and consultant.

NPA specializes in working with national and regional foundations to develop programs that involve community foundations as local partners.  NPA staff worked with the Kansas Health Foundation to design and implement “GROW Healthy Kansas: The Second Chapter,” which is a $30 million, 10-year program to build the community foundation field in Kansas.  NPA also has conducted evaluations of two state-wide efforts funded by private foundations to build community foundations, and has participated in an effort to establish a state-wide “back-office” agency to provide processing services for all community foundations.

Mark Neithercut, NPA Principal, served on the Community Foundation Leadership Team, the national board for the community foundation field, from 2000 to 2004.