In 1914, Frederick Goff created a new type of philanthropy in Cleveland, Ohio. It was called a “community foundation,” and it was as simple as it was elegant. It made philanthropy available to average citizens to help build the communities where they lived and worked.
Charitably inclined citizens, whether wealthy or of modest means, could create funds at a foundation which, in turn, would invest the money. Civic-minded volunteers knowledgeable about local needs would grant the income from those funds to nonprofit organizations.
In 1969, James Rouse created the Columbia Foundation, the first community foundation in the state of Maryland. He and members of the founding board had the prescience to realize that the new town of Columbia would continue to grow and attract new residents and would have pressing needs for decades to come.
Although our name changed from the Columbia Foundation to the Community Foundation of Howard County in 2013 to be more inclusive and to more accurately reflect the geographic area served, our mission and Jim’s vision remains intact. Through the vision of Jim Rouse, and the generosity of donors over the past four decades, the Community Foundation of Howard County is here to meet the challenges of Howard County of the 21st century.
As a public charity, CFHoCo makes a point of operating in an open manner that welcomes scrutiny. We take our obligation to donors, community groups and the public at large very seriously. Serving all of Howard County, CFHoCo is a charitable organization dedicated to inspiring lifelong giving and connecting people, places and organizations to worthy causes across Howard County, now and into the future. Created by and for the people of Howard County, CFHoCo is here to help our donors make a positive impact on their community and to support nonprofit organizations that address important causes in our county.
With assets of more than $15 million and more than 300 charitable funds under management, we promote philanthropy by addressing emerging community issues, managing permanent endowments and working with individuals, families, corporations and private foundations. We support nonprofit organizations in achieving their charitable objectives and distribute grants and scholarships that touch and transform the lives of so many Howard County residents.
