As summer begins, communities across the US and around the world also prepare for severe weather —from tornados to hurricanes, wildfires and earthquakes. In recent years, the US has experienced some of the mostly costly natural disasters ever on record. And yet, a recent study from the Center for…

I hope this newsletter finds you well and ready for summer! Thank you to all who joined us in Miami for the Leading Together 2019 Conference. It was an amazing week of connecting, learning, celebrating and building with peers from across the globe. I found the time spent invigorating, and our…

This time of year, I receive numerous inquiries about administrative fees. Perhaps it is first quarter investment return reviews or something in the spring air—but my response to the question about ‘lowering fees’ is fairly consistent—why would we encourage the lowering of fees? To begin, I have…

Council staff are back in DC after an incredible week spent with hundreds of foundation leaders at our Leading Together conference in Miami. As I begin turning my attention towards a summer of Council programming and member engagement, I’m also reflecting on themes I heard in Miami, about listening…

One of the most pressing questions we’re addressing at the Council on Foundations is: How does the Council become more responsive to the current ecosystem of philanthropy? I’m sure you’ve grappled with similar questions as your work has evolved, you’ve pushed for greater business alignment and…

We’re less than two weeks away from Leading Together 2019. We’ve been busy preparing a great program with fantastic speakers representing diverse perspectives. Best of all, it’s not too late to register! Additionally, we’ve updated the full global preconference program with all of the speakers and…

When I meet with leaders of community foundations, bringing back the Council’s former Community Foundation’s Fall Conference tops the list of requests. I share in your desire for the Council to provide a better space for community foundation leaders to network and engage around issues that impact…

In January, we kicked off our work to Reimagine Council Membership, and since then, we’ve heard from more than 450 foundations via an open survey, an external task force, and a series of focus groups with resigned and current members of the Council.   One large and loud message we have heard…

We are just over one month away from the Council on Foundations’ 2019 Leading Together Conference, taking place in Miami, Florida, from April 29 through May 1. This year, our Leading Together conference has even more content targeted at corporates, including conversations with peers,…

March is an exciting month at the Council! Our new President and CEO, Kathleen Enright, started this month and we’re looking forward to her leadership. Our global team has also expanded with the arrival of Brian Kastner, our new Manager of Global Philanthropy. Brian will be an important resource…

The beginning of a new year is an opportunity for reflection and goal-setting, and as we move into February, I am excited about the opportunities ahead of us. At the Council, we are working amidst boxes as we prepare to move back into the heart of Washington, D.C., in mid-February. We are also…

Through social movements like #BlackLivesMatter, #MeToo, and #NeverAgain, we see people for the change they want to see in the world, and in their communities. As these movements grow and evolve, a common question arises—How can community foundations support these groups or individual passions…

Through social movements like #BlackLivesMatter, #MeToo, and #NeverAgain, we see people across the world pushing for the change they want to see. As these movements grow and evolve, a common question is what role foundation giving can play in them. How can private foundations support these groups,…

Throughout my recent conversations with corporate members, I’ve reflected on the concept of collective impact and how it shows up in corporate philanthropy.  In an article in 2011, the Stanford Social Innovation Review defined collective impact initiatives as involving "a…

This month, Council staff have been busy emptying filing cabinets and cleaning out closets in advance of our move back to DC. As we packed program files from our international program, I was reminded of the long history of our work to strengthen cross-border giving by US foundations. We found…

This month is African American History Month, which honors the contributions of the black community to the history of the United States and the future of our country. As a white male, it reminds me that I am often unaware of the realities of my own whiteness.  To better understand the…