The National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations Program was established in 2000 in cooperation with the Council on Foundations. National Standards guide community foundations in establishing legal, ethical and effective operational practices that serve as blueprints for internal development and benchmarks for external assessment. The 43 National Standards requires DCF to document its policies in donor services, investment management, grant-making and administration. To receive confirmation of National Standards compliance, DCF submitted its organizational and financial documents, policies and procedures to a rigorous peer review.

Other Memberships:

The Dearborn Community Foundation belongs to the following organizations to ensure that we use the best practices in the industry:
• Council on Foundations
• Community Foundations of America
• Indiana Grantmakers Alliance

DCF also:

• voluntarily engages a third-party, independent auditor (currently Blue & Co., LLC) to conduct an annual audit of all of the Dearborn Community Foundation, Inc.’s financial statements and operations;

• includes, as a part of its governance, a Finance & Investment Committee that is comprised of unpaid, volunteers with strong accounting, financial and business backgrounds. The annual audit report is available to the full Board of Directors and Finance & Investment Committee for review. The Foundation makes its full audit results and audited financial statements available to the public; and

• enforces a Conflict of Interest Policy that demands board members (and committee members) avoid any conflict, or appearance of conflict, between their personal interests and the interests of the Foundation in dealing with any organization or individual having, or seeking to have, any relationship with the Foundation. Each board member must disclose any possible conflict of interest and no member can vote on any matter or participate in the discussion of any matter under consideration at a Foundation meeting, in which the member has a possible conflict of interest.

Policy of Public Availability

The Foundation adheres to an open door policy concerning the following items: 

• Internal Revenue Service Tax Form – 990 and Form 990-T (applicable for years in which form 990-T is filed).
• Copies of our past audits
• Approved board meeting minutes
• Current financial statements with the understanding that they have not yet been audited for accuracy
• Names of investment managers and fund investment and administrative fees.

Any party requesting the above information will be required to complete the request form below and submit it to the Foundation. Anyone who requests a copy of the above items in person will be provided a copy at the first available opportunity not to exceed 48 hours during the business week. If we receive a request by telephone or by mail, it is the policy of this Foundation to reproduce the items and mail to the requestor within 48 hours during the business week. We will expect reproduction (50 cents per page) and postage reimbursement from the requestor when these expenses are incurred. Information request forms are available at the DCF office, 322 Walnut Street, Lawrenceburg, IN 47025.