About Us

Not yet a member? Are you interested in learning more about membership? Visit our Membership FAQ page or call Karen Engstrom at 888-212-9922.

What members are saying... "ASF provides down-to-earth, practical information that doesn't require me to translate something written for another reason."

The Association of Small Foundations (ASF) is a membership organization of over 3,000 foundations. For ASF, small relates to staff size, not asset size. The United States is home to over 60,000 smaller foundations - those led entirely by volunteer boards or operated by just a few staff. These small-staffed foundations account for half of the country's total foundation grant dollars, and provide essential financial support in communities across the country. Through our dedication to foundations, we have become the largest foundation support organization in the United States. 

Coming soon - our 2007 Annual Report

Our Vision
ASF enhances the power of small foundation giving by providing the donors, trustees, and staff of member foundations with peer learning opportunities, targeted tools and resources, and a collective voice in and beyond the philanthropic community.

Our History
In 1995, several trustees and staff of foundations with few or no staff met together at a foundation conference under a sign reading "Are you alone with $20 million?" Obvious connections were discovered. Though small foundations were doing all the things that large foundations were doing, they were trying to get it done alone. Whether it was discussing efficient grantmaking procedures, the intricacies of self-dealing rules, or how to cut down on administrative costs, foundations with few or no staff had a different perspective and different needs from the country's larger foundations.

From this informal gathering, the Association of Small Foundations was formed with 65 members, and foundations with few or no staff found a home. Today, with 3,000 members in all 50 states, ASF has quickly become the most popular membership association of donors and philanthropists in the country. We still have the same friendly culture, and take pride in connecting members.

The Association of Small Foundations, as an organization, has found a great home, too - thanks to ASF member The Wasie Foundation and their CEO Gregg Sjoquist. After a two-year search we moved to Dupont Circle in Washington, DC. In our friendly row home offices, we are still helping small foundations deal with the issues that sparked its creation, as well as constantly creating new and more advanced resources with and for our members. Visit us!

Learn more about the importance of small foundations.

ASF is a 501(c)(3) charity. See our financial and legal documents.