Organization accredited with rigorous philanthropic standards
Paducah, KY, March 17, 2026 — The Community Foundation of West Kentucky recently received word of its renewed accreditation with the nation’s highest standard for philanthropic excellence from the Community Foundations National Standards® Board. The Board establishes legal, ethical and effective practices for community foundations everywhere.
“Meeting the National Standards benchmarks is a rigorous, comprehensive process,” said Susie Nelson, board chair of National Standards. “This accreditation is a significant accomplishment that indicates the Community Foundation of West Kentucky demonstrates a commitment to transparency, quality, integrity and accountability as it carries out its mission.”
The Community Foundations National Standards® program requires community foundations to document their policies for donor services, investments, grantmaking and administration. With more than 500 community foundations already accredited nationwide, the program is designed to provide quality assurance to donors, as well as to their legal and financial advisors.
“This accreditation renewal makes a very important statement to our donors,” said Lee Emmons, CFWK Chief Executive Officer. “People put their trust in us when making a charitable bequest or establishing a fund. They count on us to manage the investment wisely and honor their charitable wishes. The National Standards accreditation affirms our commitment to honor that trust.”
“The Community Foundation of West Kentucky works to meet critical community needs and support local causes, such as nonprofits supporting the arts, food insecurity, affordable housing, healthcare initiatives and expanding educational opportunities through literacy programs and scholarships,” said Emmons.
CFWK offers a range of charitable funds, allowing donors to advance a cause, support an individual organization, provide flexible support for community needs or recommend individual grants.
“Through philanthropic services, strategic investments and community leadership, the Community Foundation of West Kentucky helps people support the causes they care about, now and for generations to come,” said Angie Jackson, CFWK board president. “With this renewed National Standards accreditation, you can be assured we are following best practices in all our efforts.”
Community Foundations National Standards® is the first program of its kind for charitable foundations in the United States.
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 www.cfstandards.org.