The Luzerne Foundation is recognized for having organizational and financial practices that are in accordance with the National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations. The Council on Foundations and leaders of the community foundation field created the National Standards in 2000 to aid community foundations in establishing legal, ethical and effective operational practices that would show the foundations’ transparency and financial responsibility in light of the increased public scrutiny of foundation practices. In addition, National Standards were developed to distinguish community foundations from other philanthropic vehicles, build the capacity of community foundations to carry out their missions and assist the field with self-regulation in a manner viewed positively by the Internal Revenue Service.

In all, 26 National Standards must be met before compliance is issued. Intended both as a blueprint for internal organizational development and as a tangible set of benchmarks for external assessment of performance, the National Standards address the following keys areas of community foundation operations: Structure & Governance, Resource Development, Accountability, Grantmaking, and Community Engagement.