Who We Are

The mission of the Madison Community Foundation (MCF) is to encourage, facilitate and manage long-term philanthropy. Since
1942, MCF has been connecting generous donors like you with causes they care about most, helping them make a positive difference now and far into the future.

MCF is made up of gifts from thousands of donors over the course of the Foundation’s history. We help individuals, families, and businesses create personal giving strategies, establish funds to make the most of their charitable resources and fulfill their philanthropic dreams. The expertise of MCF Board and staff gives donors the power of a private foundation without the administrative burdens or expense.

MCF awards more than $10 million a year from the earnings of those gifts as grants and scholarships to nonprofit organizations throughout Dane County and beyond. MCF also awards Community Impact Grants through a competitive process each year, with distributions coming from a pool of unrestricted funds.

We intend to be here forever. As steward for the gifts that come to us, we invest for growth and income, providing resources for our fundholders and the community forever.

MCF is in compliance with the National Standards of U.S. Community Foundations, administered by the Council on Foundations, a membership organization of more than 2,000 grantmaking foundations and giving programs worldwide, affirming a commitment to financial security, transparency and accountability.