Financial Foundations Framework

Created by GFOA, the Financial Foundations Framework helps facilitate collaboration and support for public policies and programs. Organized into five pillars, the Framework shows you how to improve your financial position now and create a strong foundation for a thriving community over the long-term. Each pillar includes different leadership strategies and/or institutional design principles. Understanding that local governments cannot order people to collaborate, leadership strategies help inspire pride and public support for a strong financial foundation. Institutional design principles, meanwhile, are the “rules of the road.” They provide the context for leadership strategies and ensure continuity of good financial practices through changes in leadership.

For many GFOA is a source of best practices, model policies, and other recommendations on what to do to improve financial management in your government. The Financial Foundations Framework provides guidance on how to implement those changes and create a financially sustainable organization.

Financial Foundations for Thriving Communities

Financial Foundations for Thriving Communities introduces GFOA's new Financial Foundations Framework. Organized into five pillars, the Framework shows you how to improve your financial position now and create a strong foundation for a thriving community over the long-term. Each pillar includes different leadership strategies and/or institutional design principles.