Members & Membership

About NCG

Inspiration. Community. Leadership. Northern California Grantmakers (NCG) is an association of foundations, corporate contributions programs and other private and public grantmakers. Building on an initiative started in 1965 to exchange ideas, improve cooperation among foundations, and increase their knowledge of community problems, NCG has now grown to support the activity of approximately 160 grantmaking organizations and individuals, with combined grantmaking of more than $1 billion annually. NCG's work has resulted in an infrastructure that supports a robust professional community that continues to seek common standards, accepted modes of practice, and leadership for the field.

In 2007, our community adopted The Effectiveness and Accountability Principles to promote greater awareness and stimulate vibrant, healthy discourse among NCG members about good governance and practice. We ask all new members to review the Principles, as your participation as a member of NCG demonstrates a commitment to these shared values.

• Benefits of Membership
• Membership Eligibility
• Membership Criteria

Membership Eligibility

NCG membership is open to the following types of grantmakers:

• Community Foundations
• Corporate Foundations and Corporate Giving Programs
• Family Foundations
• Focused Funds and Philanthropic Giving Circles
• Governmental Grantmaking Agencies
• Independent Foundations
• Individual Donors and Donor Advised Funds
• Operating Foundations wiht a minimal grantmaking component
• Philanthropic Management Entitites
• Public Foundations

Membership Criteria

1. The applicant's primary purpose for joining NCG is a desire to improve its grantmaking program.
2. The applicant awards $25,000 or more per year in grants to multiple, unrelated organizations, within its funding priorities, and does not restrict its giving to subsidiary chapters or to a single institution. "In-kind contributions/grants" (products and/or services) will be considered as all or part of the applicant's eligible grantmaking in qualifying for membership but will not be used as a basis on which to calculate dues.
3. The applicant makes available to the public information about its granting program (e.g. through its web site, or the use of printed materials, and/or by its IRS form 990PF).
   

   Exception
   Individuals and donor advised funds do not need to meet this criterion. However, donor -advised funds must be managed at organizations which meet this criterion.

4. For organizational members, the grantmaking program is the most significant part of the applicant's activities.

   Clarifications
   An Operating Foundation may count the fair market value of the "in-kind" grants made to the philanthropic programs (exempt activities) they operate as well as monies they grant to other entities. However, they must maintain an annual program of direct grants that constitutes at least 10% of their operating budget.
   
   For Corporate Giving Programs and Government Grantmaking Agencies, the term "applicant" refers to the corporate giving unit, rather than the entire organization.

5. The Applicant reviews NCG's Effectiveness and Accountability Principles

   Clarifications
   These principles were designed as a statement of values to the field of philanthropy and as a representation of our members desire to be more effective, reflective, and responsive. NCG is dedicated to upholding these principles in every aspect of the work we do. By joining the NCG membership, you are demonstrating a commitment to these values and we expect members to act in accordance with the highest ethical standards and our Effectiveness and Accountability Principles.