By TORY IRGANG and DIANE HANNUM

Each year, from Nov. 12 to 18, Community Foundation Week marks a time to celebrate local impact and recognize the increasingly important role of these philanthropic organizations in fostering collaboration and innovation to address the needs of the communities they serve. Community Foundation Week was established in 1989 by former President George H.W. Bush to honor the work of community foundations nationwide and their unique ability to bring together the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to strengthen communities.

For more than a century, community foundations have served as trusted partners and local resources, helping communities thrive through their focus on people, purpose, and place.

Community foundations are independent, public organizations that steward charitable resources from individuals and institutions to support local nonprofits. They represent one of the fastest-growing forms of philanthropy and are grounded in the belief that lasting change begins at the community level. Across the country, in small towns and large cities, community foundations are helping identify solutions, invest in what works, and bring people together to make a collective impact.

Here in Chautauqua County, we’re fortunate to have not one but two community foundations working side by side to strengthen our region. The Chautauqua Region Community Foundation and the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation share a common purpose: connecting people who care with causes close to home. While we operate independently, we often collaborate to support initiatives that benefit residents and nonprofits across the entire county. Both foundations are built on a shared spirit of generosity, partnership, and long-term commitment to improving the quality of life for all who call Chautauqua County home.

Together, we see the difference philanthropy makes every day. Strategic grants fuel local projects, strengthen local nonprofits, and offer thoughtful and timely approaches to addressing community needs. Collaborations bring people and ideas together for the common good. Scholarships open doors to new opportunities. Every gift to the community foundations, no matter the size, helps build a stronger, more connected community.

In times that can feel uncertain or overwhelming, community foundations offer a hopeful way forward–an opportunity to take action where it matters most: right here at home.

When you invest in your community, you help shape a brighter future for everyone who lives here.

As we celebrate Community Foundation Week, we extend our gratitude to the donors, nonprofits, volunteers, and community leaders who make this work possible. Together, we are building a more vibrant Chautauqua County — today and for generations to come.

Tory Irgang is executive director of the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation and Diane Hannum is executive director of the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation.