What is a Community Foundation?

A community foundation is a collection of individual funds and resources given by local citizens, corporations, and other organizations 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 larger foundation. The earnings generated from these separate funds can help a community respond to emerging challenges and opportunities, as well as prepare for its future. A board of longtime High Desert resident volunteers, governs all activities of the community foundation. In this way the community foundation is fully accountable to the community it serves.