International Therapeutic Initiative runs weekly stroke rehabilitation classes in Amersham. They have recieved 2 grants totalling £822

International Therapeutic Initiative runs weekly stroke rehabilitation classes in Amersham. They have recieved 2 grants totalling £822

History of CFs

Frederick Harris GoffThe concept was created by a philanthropic business man and attorney Frederick Harris Goff in 1914; who started the first Community Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio.

He wanted to develop a community-orientated foundation which would enable charitably-minded individuals to establish permanent funds that could be distributed as grants for the improvement of the local community.

His research showed that banks were good at taking the money but were not good at giving it back out to the community.

Therefore, his Community Foundation concept would keep its investment and distribution arms separate; with banks managing the funds and people chosen for their positions of trust and honour in the community, having the responsibility for distributing money earned from those funds.

Cleveland Community Foundation is the oldest, but not the largest Community Foundation in the United States.  To date it has $1.9billion in assets, and last year gave out $85million in grants.

This successful concept of Frederick Harris Goff has not been changed, but has been replicated all over the world.  There are now over 600 Community Foundations worldwide.