Community foundations represent a relatively new form of foundations. The primary goal of community foundations is to improve the quality of life for those living in a closed area, usually in a city or region. The concept has its roots in the USA where community foundations have a long and successful history. After all, due to the amounts of funds spent on public purposes, they are also very important factors in shaping the public life. Then the paper presents the basic characteristics of community foundations. After describing the first community foundation, established in Gütersloh, Germany, a thought has been given to advantages of community foundations and to their potentials for the circumstances in Slovenia.
KEYWORDS: • foundations • community foundations • civil society • Slovenia
