When tackling issues around health care, education, infrastructure, or anything else, philanthropy is often perceived as narrowly focusing on the most immediate causes rather than tackling structural or root causes.   But the reality is that philanthropy's role is much more expansive,…

As the current Co-Chairs of the Council on Foundations’ Community Foundation Advisory Group, we wanted to reflect on the conversations and issues we have covered over the past year and share some key takeaways with our peers across the sector.  The Advisory Group represents community…

This blog is part of the Council's Dialogue Across Difference series. In this space, we will share your viewpoints: In a time of polarization and mistrust, how can philanthropy bridge across difference?  In the 1830s Alexis de Tocqueville wrote that he was astonished by Americans’ collective…

As we arrive at the end of the year, it can be tempting to focus solely on what we want to do better next year. Sometimes the challenges we face are so overwhelming that we want to turn the page to a new chapter as soon as possible. At the same time, we know that our Council community engaged in…

This blog is part of the Council's Dialogue Across Difference series. In this space, we will share your viewpoints: In a time of polarization and mistrust, how can philanthropy bridge across difference? Janet N. Ekezie is part of our Bridging Differences Leadership Cohort.  Philanthropy has…

At the Council on Foundations, we pride ourselves on being a learning organization – one that continuously seeks to understand, reflect, and evolve. It’s in that spirit that we introduce our upcoming member survey. All of our members have received invitations to participate from our research…

This blog is part of the Council's Dialogue Across Difference series. In this space, we will share your viewpoints: In a time of polarization and mistrust, how can philanthropy bridge across difference?  The Constitution empowers us to create “a more perfect union.” Today, toxic polarization…

This blog is the first in the Council's new series, Dialogue Across Difference. In this space, we will share your viewpoints: In a time of polarization and mistrust, how can philanthropy bridge across difference?  In a staff training, the facilitators from Resetting the Table asked us to…

Posted on September 18, 2023. The Council is maintaining pages to assist funders for Morocco and Libya, which will be updated more frequently.  In early September 2023, devastating disasters struck both Morocco and Libya:   Morocco was hit by a 6.8 magnitude earthquake September 8…

It’s a call no one in philanthropy wants to receive: An organization you funded for its soup kitchen is also running an anti-LGBTQ “conversion therapy” program. Your climate-justice grant may have gone to a group that promotes bombings and arson to disrupt state and federal environmental agencies.…

Already, 2023 has seen significant global activity related to how civil society is regulated globally. The U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.N., and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) have each issued new guidance for governments and financial institutions, and these developments represent…

Will the Supreme Court end affirmative action in June? It seems likely, and the legal consequences may ripple beyond college admissions to other sectors, including philanthropy and the wider charitable sector.    As you may know, the Court heard two cases – Students for Fair Admissions (…

It’s a headline we’re hearing from many places these days: Trust in institutions is at an all-time low. So it was good news for philanthropy when a study released earlier this month showed that nonprofits are generally very trusted. On the other hand: The study, What Americans Think About…

#FOTH2023 was an examination of philanthropy’s responsibilities and privileges as a partner to government agents. Nonprofit tax policy, the rise of populism, the 118th Congress, and much more was on the table for discussion from Feb. 27 to March 1. We also shared time connecting with colleagues…

When Logan McDonnell was appointed Executive Director of the California collaborative Keep Oakland Housed, it meant more than a career milestone: it was personal. “Looking back at my childhood after the 2008 crisis, how my father fell so far behind on his mortgage, that spoke to me in regard to…

At home and across the country, the Council community flourished in 2022. Check out the graphic below to see the metrics behind the impact, and read the full Year in Review, including a letter from our President and CEO, to learn more. Download the Year in Review.