Corporate Giving Programs and Foundations
Corporate Philanthropy refers to the investments and activities a company voluntarily undertakes to responsibly manage and account for its impact on society. It includes investments of money, donations of products, in-kind services and technical assistance, employee volunteerism, and other business transactions to advance a social cause, issue, or the work of a nonprofit organization. Corporate foundations and corporate giving programs traditionally play a major role in these areas.
Due to the large number of resources on our website, we highly recommend you use the site navigation or the search feature to find what you are looking for.
Philanthropy Week in Washington 2014
Philanthropy Week Details
March 3-7, 2014
An initiative of the Council on Foundations
Philanthropy Week in Washington is a week of activities – some familiar and others new – themed around engaging policy makers in our Nation's Capitol. This series of in person and media events…
Washington Snapshot - December 20, 2013
Happy holidays! The Council’s Public Policy team wishes you and your loved ones a joyous and festive winter break!
Council letter featured in The New York Times
As we reported last week, Council president & CEO Vikki Spruill authored a letter to the New York Times editors responding to Ray…
Scrivner Award for Creative Grantmaking Recipients
The Scrivner Award for Creative Grantmaking was established in 1985 to recognize a grantmaker who has demonstrated outstanding creativity. It honored grantmakers who, with a combination of vision, principle and personal commitment, made a critical difference in a creative way. The award was created…
Typhoon Haiyan Webinar with the Center for Disaster Philanthropy
Typhoon Haiyan was one of the worst disasters to hit the Philippines in decades. This webinar was conducted one month after the Super Typhoon made landfall, killing more than 5,000 and causing billions in damages. Representatives from the Philippines Embassy in Washington, DC, Accenture, and the…
Bringing Personal Accountability on Board
Increasing personal accountability is probably the most effective way to enhance the performance of board members. Here are a few suggestions.
by James E. Klusman
"Life's a lot more fun when you're not responsible for your actions." So says Calvin, in the cartoon "Calvin and Hobbes," as he…
A Compliance Checklist for Private Foundations
Legal Compliance Guidance
The persistent scrutiny of nonprofit governance has prompted leaders at many types of organizations to take steps to assure that their own houses are in good legal and financial order. This checklist is a good place for you as a private foundation to start.
Tips for Effective Grantee Relations
External Resource
This checklist for developing effective grantee relations was prepared by Jane Kendall, president of the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits and a trustee of the Kathleen Price Bryan Family Fund.
Washington Snapshot - December 13, 2013
Happy holiday season! We even had a snow day here in D.C. this week that helped to boost our festive spirits.
Council President Responds to Critical New York Times Op-Ed
Ray Madoff’s New York Times op-ed characterizes the charitable deduction as “wasteful,” and brings up an idea—one that we’ve…
Washington Snapshot - December 6, 2013
Welcome to December! We hope that all of our readers had an enjoyable Thanksgiving with family and friends, and a Happy Hanukkah!
Thune-Wyden Letter on the Charitable Deduction
As this YouTube wrap-up of the day reveals, the Charitable Giving Coalition's D.C. fly-in generated buzz about the…
Glossary of Philanthropic Terms
Fundamentals
Search by Letter
A B C D E F G I J L M O P Q R S T U
Certain definitions are defined by law.
A
501(c)(3):
Section of the Internal Revenue Code that designates an organization as charitable and tax-exempt. Organizations qualifying under this section include religious, educational, charitable,…
IRA Charitable Rollover
Issue
The Council has actively supported permanence and expansion of the IRA Charitable Rollover since its inclusion in the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA). As of December 18, 2015, the IRA Charitable Rollover was passed by Congress and signed into permanent law by the President, allowing…
Ask Your Senators to Help Preserve the Charitable Deduction
On November 20, in conjunction with the Charitable Giving Coalition’s “Protect Giving Day,” Senators John Thune (R-SD) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) issued a letter in full support of the charitable deduction. This letter is a perfect example of the growing bipartisan support for preserving the full value…
A Quest for Equality: Breaking the Barriers for People with Disabilities
External Resource
From The Chicago Community Trust, this white paper challenges all of us with a set of thoughtful recommendations to realize our promise for the full inclusion of people with disabilities in our communities, our schools and our workplaces.
Thinking about an Audit? Read this First
Legal Compliance Guidance
Audits are everywhere these days. Consider:
In the wake of corporate accounting scandals, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act was enacted in 2002, imposing corporate governance reforms on public, for-profit companies, including provisions on how financial audits are managed and carried out by auditors.…
More than Money: Making a Difference with Assistance Beyond the Grant
External Resource
From the Center for Effective Philanthropy, most of foundations’ efforts to contribute ‘beyond the money’ have little beneficial impact on grantees. More than Money: Making a Difference with Assistance Beyond the Grant reveals that only when foundation staff provide assistance beyond the grant in…
Effective Collaborations: Recommendations for a Connected Philanthropic Infrastructure
Publication
The report explores the ways in which infrastructure organizations think about the value and the mechanics of collaboration—the drivers and barriers to collaborative work—and determine ways to encourage more effective partnerships. The publication features a framework for understanding…