The mission of the Foundation for a Sustainable Community is to invest business and community resources to promote and advance the triple bottom line of community sustainability: environmental stewardship, social equity and economic prosperity.

In August 2003, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce convened the Council on a Sustainable Community, an independent task force, to address how to proactively promote a healthy economy and ensure Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Southern Orange County remain successful and sustainable. This Council, composed of community leaders who believe that a sustainable community is in all of our best interests, underwent a six month process of researching the community’s main issues and challenges. The Foundation for a Sustainable Community was created as the permanent organization charged with the goal of advancing creative solutions to long term community sustainability, relevant skills and knowledge.