A world enriched by the effective allocation of philanthropic resources, informed public discourse about philanthropy, and broad understanding of the contributions of nonprofit activity to civil society.

The Foundation Center's mission is to strengthen the nonprofit sector by advancing knowledge about U.S. philanthropy.

Established in 1956, and today supported by more than 600 foundations, the Foundation Center is the nation's leading authority on philanthropy, connecting nonprofits and the grantmakers supporting them to tools they can use and information they can trust. The Center maintains the most comprehensive database on U.S. grantmakers and their grants — a robust, accessible knowledge bank for the sector. It also operates research, education, and training programs designed to advance philanthropy at every level. The Center's web site receives more than 47,000 visits each day, and thousands of people gain access to free resources in its five regional library/learning centers and its national network of more than 340 Cooperating Collections.

Our Beliefs

• Philanthropy is vital to our democratic society.
• Transparency and accountability are key to earning the public trust.
• Knowledge about philanthropy starts with accurate information.
• Access to accurate information about philanthropy advances responsible and effective use of philanthropic resources.
• Grantmaker and nonprofit effectiveness is enhanced by shared information and understanding.

Our Practices

• We aim to deliver the highest quality of service to all those who use our resources.
• We strive to build partnerships that help us fulfill our mission.
• We preserve our credibility by remaining independent and objective.
• We embrace innovation and harness technology to maximize our effectiveness.
• We value our employees and their contributions to our impact.
• We exercise fiscal responsibility as a means of achieving our mission.