Lowell – Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) recently received a reaccreditation with the nation’s highest standard for philanthropic excellence. Community Foundations National Standards® establish legal, ethical, effective practices for community foundations everywhere.

“Meeting the National Standards benchmarks is a rigorous, comprehensive process,” said Susie Nelson, board chair of National Standards. “This accreditation is a significant accomplishment that indicates GLCF demonstrates a commitment to transparency, quality, integrity, and accountability as it carries out its mission.”

The Community Foundations National Standards® program requires community foundations to document their policies for donor services, investments, grantmaking, and administration. With over 500 community foundations already accredited nationwide, the program is designed to provide quality assurance to donors as well as to their legal and financial advisors. Community foundations reconfirm their accreditation every three years. GLCF first received accreditation from Community Foundations National Standards® in 2006.

“This reaccreditation is a significant accomplishment,” said Jay Linnehan, GLCF’s President and CEO. “When people trust Greater Lowell Community Foundation with a charitable bequest, to establish a fund, or set up an annuity, they do it knowing that we have met rigorous standards for donor services, investment management, grantmaking, and administration.”

GLCF works to meet critical community needs and support local causes, including food and housing insecurity, mental health support, meeting the needs of elders and children, and immigrant resettlement. GLCF 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 reaccreditation continues to validate GLCF’s grantmaking practices for the nonprofit community.

“The Community Foundations National Standards reaccreditation says this house is in order,” said GLCF Board Chair Chet Szablak. “It is an excellent validation of the work GLCF does on behalf of our donors and community.” GLCF has given more than $35 million in grants and scholarships since it was founded in 1997.