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.

To achieve our mission, we:

• Collect, organize, and communicate information on U.S. philanthropy
• Conduct and facilitate research on trends in the field
• Provide education and training on the grantseeking process
• Ensure public access to information and services through our Web site, print and electronic publications, five library/learning centers, and a national network of Cooperating Collections.

Founded in 1956, the Center is the nation's leading authority on philanthropy and is dedicated to serving grantseekers, grantmakers, researchers, policymakers, the media, and the general public.

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.