Princeton Area Community Foundation Earns Accreditation For Third Straight Year

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ — The Princeton Area Community Foundation has been accredited since the National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations established legal, ethical, effective practices for community foundations everywhere in 2015, and this year is no different.

For the third time, the Princeton Area Community Foundation has met the nation’s highest standard for philanthropic excellence.

“Meeting the National Standards benchmarks is a rigorous, comprehensive process,” Community Foundations National Standards Board Chair Randy Royster said. “This accreditation is a significant accomplishment that indicates the Princeton Area Community Foundation continues to demonstrate a commitment to transparency, quality, integrity and accountability as it carries out its mission.”

National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations requires community foundations to document their policies for donor services, investments, grant making and administration. The accreditation program is designed to provide quality assurance to donors, as well as to their legal and financial advisers.

It is the first program of its kind for charitable foundations in the United States.

“When people make a charitable bequest or establish a fund, they are putting their trust in us. They are counting on us to manage the investment wisely and honor their charitable wishes,” Princeton Area Community Foundation President and CEO Jeffrey M. Vega said. “Our continued participation in the National Standards accreditation process affirms our commitment to excellence, in our work with donors, nonprofits and the community.”

The Community Foundation works to meet critical community needs and support local causes, including children and adolescents living in poverty.

The Community Foundation offers a range of charitable funds, allowing donors to advance a cause, support an individual organization, provide flexible support for community needs or recommend individual grants.
In addition to affirming the organization’s philanthropic services, the accreditation validates the Community Foundation’s grant making practices for the non-profit community.

“Grant making is a lot like investing,” Princeton Area Community Foundation Board of Trustees Chair Carol P. Herring said. “We need to assess risks, weigh potential gains, diversify assets, monitor performance and operate fairly. With our National Standards accreditation, you can be assured that we’re doing just that."