Vision:



A world enriched by the effective allocation of philanthropic resources, informed public discourse about philanthropy, and broad understanding of the contributions of nonprofit activity to civil society.



Mission:



The Foundation Center's mission is to strengthen the nonprofit sector by advancing knowledge about U.S. philanthropy.



To achieve our mission, we:



- Collect, organize, and communicate information on U.S. philanthropy



- Conduct and facilitate research on trends in the field



- Provide education and training on the grantseeking process



- Ensure public access to information and services through our Web site, print and electronic publications, five library/learning centers, and a national network of Cooperating Collections.



Our Beliefs:



- Philanthropy is vital to our democratic society.



- Transparency and accountability are key to earning the public trust.



- Knowledge about philanthropy starts with accurate information.



- Access to accurate information about philanthropy advances responsible and effective use of philanthropic resources.



- Grantmaker and nonprofit effectiveness is enhanced by shared information and understanding.