Foundation receives rare distinction

The Ventura County Community Foundation has been certified in compliance with national standards for U.S. community foundations, making it one of just 150 organizations nationwide to achieve this distinction.

The Council on Foundations, along with leaders from throughout the community foundation field, created the national standards in 2000 to distinguish com

munity foundations from other philanthropic vehicles and to establish legal, ethical and effective operational practices.

The foundation adopted an earlier version of standards for community foundations in October 2001. The foundation board decided to adopt as policy the national standards in December 2004 and participated in a review process that involved months of gathering and reviewing docu

ments. The certification of national standards completes the process started five years ago.

The Ventura County Community Foundation is a family of charitable funds. Founded in 1987, the foundation's mission is to promote and enable philanthropy and to build long-term capital to benefit Ventura County.

For more information, visit www.vccf.org.