June 1, 2026
CFO “demonstrates a commitment to transparency, quality, integrity and accountability”
The Community Foundation of the Ozarks recently received accreditation from Community Foundations National Standards, the nation’s highest standard for philanthropic excellence. Community Foundations National Standards establishes legal, ethical and effective practices for community foundations.
The CFO joins more than 450 community foundations with National Standards accreditation, which requires community foundations to document their policies for donor services, investments, grantmaking and administration.
The CFO’s Board of Directors identified national accreditation as a strategic priority for fiscal year 2026. To achieve accreditation, CFO staff spent the past year updating its policies and procedures. The result is alignment with a national program designed to provide quality assurance to donors, as well as to their legal and financial advisors.
“Meeting the National Standards benchmarks is a rigorous, comprehensive process,” said Michelle Foster, board president of National Standards. “This accreditation is a significant accomplishment that indicates the Community Foundation of the Ozarks demonstrates a commitment to transparency, quality, integrity and accountability as it carries out its mission.”
“Our work is entirely driven by trust, especially with donors and professional advisors who are considering charitable legacies as part of an estate plan,” said Winter Kinne, president and CEO of the CFO. “National Standards accreditation gives everyone we serve a clear sign that the CFO pursues our mission with excellence. I’m grateful to our staff for ensuring our policies meet the highest standards.”
In addition to its National Standards accreditation, the CFO holds a platinum Candid Seal of Transparency, a widely recognized designation for nonprofit credibility.
The Community Foundations National Standards Board is a supporting organization of the Council on Foundations and is responsible for the quality, value and integrity of compliance with National Standards. For more information on the National Standards Board, visit cfstandards.org.
