Women's Foundations and Funds: A Pioneering Force in Philanthropy
Women’s foundations and funds have established themselves as a powerful force in philanthropy dedicated to women and girls. Giving from these organizations is substantial, but aside from a 2009 landscape report from the Foundation Center and Women’s Funding Network, our understanding of women’s…
New 21 % Excise Tax on Nonprofit Executives: Does It Impact My Corporate Foundation?
As companies file their 2018 taxes, several corporate philanthropic leaders have contacted the Council with concerns surrounding the new excise tax. As part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, Section 4960 of the bill imposes a 21 percent excise tax on highly-paid executives of nonprofit…
Reimagining the Council: Focus Group Findings & Our Next Steps
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The Value of Learning from the World
What do you do when you have a difficult and complex problem? If you’re like me, you start by trying to understand it. You think the problem through from all angles, looking at the data, talking to people in your community. You study the problem, inside out.
Now, what do you do when you're looking…
Reimagining Council Membership: What We've Learned So Far
Last month, we announced our work to Reimagine Council Membership and asked for feedback as we review Council membership and dues.
More than 400 individuals – representing grantmaking organizations of different types, sizes, geographies, and member status – responded to our survey and shared ideas…
Ensuring a Robust Policy Presence in Washington
When trustees of the Council on Foundations spoke with more than 200 members and partners during our recent leadership transition, we heard time and again how important it is for the Council to have a strong policy and advocacy presence in Washington.
While we assess the internal and external…
Why Foundations May Need Directors and Officers Liability
Nonprofit foundation boards often discount the need for ‘D&O’ Insurance. They tend to think because they don’t have shareholders their directors won’t be sued. That’s not the case. Foundations serve large and varied constituencies to whom their boards owe specific duties similar to the duties…
Reflections on Philanthropy
Editor's Note: Stephen Heintz received the 2018 Distinguished Service Award at an awards ceremony on November 28. Below are his remarks on the state of philanthropy from the event.
Thank you. It's customary at a moment like this to profess humility and to note all those who have made…
Interest is growing in a new tax incentive meant to spur growth and economic opportunity in the nation’s most distressed communities. “Opportunity Zones” were included in the 2017 tax bill after a bipartisan push to spur private capital into places that continue to fall further and further behind…
This month, thousands of representatives from governments, civil society, and the corporate sector will come together in New York for the 73rd annual United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Alongside the high-level conversations within the UN, hundreds of side-events will address the world’s…
Earlier this week, there was a beautiful bouquet of flowers delivered to my desk.
It was from the Community Foundation team to mark a milestone in my life—and my family’s life. We moved to the Quad Cities four years ago and I began working with an incredible group of people—board members and…
Editor's note: This post is one in a series highlighting sessions for the upcoming Endowments and Finance Summit, held in Washington, DC, on September 6-7. The Summit is where foundation leaders – such as CEOs, CIOs, CFOs, Senior Investment Officers and board and investment committee members –…
Editor's Note: As a part of our Inclusive Economic Prosperity in the Midwest convening, we're highlighting stories from the region. This article was originally published in bMag, a publication by the Bush Foundation.
Pakou Hang (BF’11) and her six siblings spent much of their childhood rising…
Preserving Equity among Generations: CPI + 5%
Editor's note: This post is one in a series highlighting sessions for the upcoming Endowments and Finance Summit, held in Washington, DC, on September 6-7. The Summit is where foundation leaders – such as CEOs, CIOs, CFOs, Senior Investment Officers and board and investment committee members –…
Building a Cultural Epicenter
Editor's Note: In advance of our Inclusive Economic Prosperity in the Midwest convening, we're highlighting stories from the region. This article was originally published in bMag, a publication by the Bush Foundation. Photography is by David Ellis.
On an autumn afternoon in 2017, Abdirizak “…
Career Pathways: Leadership Lessons on Achieving Equity
Editor's note: This is part of our blog series featuring current participants in the Career Pathways program. Applications for the 2019 cohort open in September.
I believe that it is pretty well understood in the sector that we have an imperative in foundation offices and board rooms to ensure our…