Editor's Note: This was first published on Philanthropy News Digest's PhilanTopic blog. The philanthropic sector has taken steps to address the lack of inclusion of women and people of color in its talent pool. But newly released research from the Council on Foundations reveals that…

Award Nominations The Council is currently accepting nominations for the 2017 Robert W. Scrivner Award for Creative Grantmaking. Nominate a courageous leader and innovative grantmaker today. Learn More The Robert W. Scrivner Award for Creative Grantmaking honors grantmakers who, with a…

As we make our way through summer, I know a lot of you are beginning to turn your attention to fall and making plans for the 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City, beginning in September. This can be an effective time to launch new global initiatives, form new partnerships…

In May, I invited the Council on Foundations' private foundation members to participate in a survey to help me gather information that will shape future Council programming tailored to private foundations. The results of the survey identified several areas of interest and need. Participants…

Since I joined the Council in early 2016, I have fielded many requests from community foundations (CFs) seeking support and guidance in facilitating international grants, often due to growing interest from members of their community in supporting causes overseas. At the Council, we’ve witnessed…

As we hit the midpoint of 2017, community and economic development are shrinking in many places. A number of our community foundation members are deploying more resources to stop this decline in their communities. For example, this recent article was food for thought on the topic of employment and…

Editor's Note: This month the Council is focusing on Leading Together through strong partnerships. Director of Community Philanthropy Brad Ward kicks off the month with the following reflection. We live in the age of partnerships, and nowhere is this more apparent to the Council than through the…

Editor's Note: This reflection is also published on NGOsource's website.  In April I attended the Council on Foundations’ 2017 annual conference, “Leading Together,” in Dallas, Texas. On the second night, attendees were invited to a reception at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. The…

The Council’s Global Team is excited to welcome a new addition! Nicolette Gerald is a graduate of George Mason University with a bachelor’s degree in government and international politics. She will be spending the next two months with us as a summer intern before beginning her graduate studies in…

June is Immigrant Heritage Month, a time during which we celebrate our origins as a nation of immigrants. The Council’s staff, its board, it strategic partners, its member organizations and the communities they serve are all inclusive of immigrants. As a national organization and a leading voice…

Editor’s Note: The Council’s legal team regularly receives questions regarding the data security of foundation operations and donor and grantee information. Lara Kalwinski, Senior Counsel, connected with Lucy Bernholz to find the right expert to break down these issues for us. Meet Josh Levy a…

The Council on Foundations was proud to recently sponsor and participate in the George W. Bush Institute’s Stand-To National Veterans Convening, a summit focused on veteran transition. Through the summit, held June 22 and 23 at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C. the Bush Institute…

It was nice to see so many of our corporate members at our annual conference in Dallas where we were joined by more than 1,000 attendees. It was an action-packed week that brought together leaders from across the world to discuss the most pressing issues in our sector. If you haven’t done so yet,…

This month I’m highlighting the National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations® program, which I’m delighted to report continues to add distinction to the work of the field. I'm also sharing several other resources below to help kick off the summer season, including “21st-Century Tools for 21st-…

In Star Wars, Episode IV (still the best one in my opinion!), when the Death Star looms large in front of the Millenium Falcon, Luke Skywalker mutters, “I have a very bad feeling about this.” When it comes to federal regulation of donor advised funds, I’m beginning to feel the same way. Donor…

This week’s activity on the CHARITY Act showed us that the National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations® continues to provide value for community foundations. The National Standards program was recognized in drafting the act’s legislation for the IRA Charitable Rollover. Senate staff…