A History of Berks County Community Foundation

In the early 1990s, a group of Berks County leaders was figuring out what exactly a community foundation does. How would it work? What role would it play in the
community?

The Council on Foundations defines community foundations as tax-exempt public charities serving thousands of people who share a common interest — improving the quality of life in their area.

Foundations invest and administer charitable funds established by people who want to help their region meet the unique challenges it faces. Volunteer boards oversee the foundations.

But community foundations do much more than administer funds. They also identify emerging issues and use their resources to assert an important leadership role in their communities.

Berks County had no such organization. But that was about to change.