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.
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First 100 Days of the Community Relations Manager: Advice from the Field
Fundamentals
During the summer of 2004, we interviewed several corporate community relations managers to gather advice for new staff in similar positions. Their comments are summarized here, and direct quotes appear in italics. While First 100 Days is not a detailed job description, it will provide novice…
Sample Document
Editable grant agreement for grants requiring expenditure responsibility.
This sample document is being provided for informational purposes and is not to be shared without the permission of the Council on Foundations. Use of the sample document does not create an attorney-client relationship…
Publication
This document codifies the job functions of private foundation CEOs and the skills and knowledge needed to perform these functions, referred to as competencies.
Fundamentals
This briefing will help your board consider three main questions: what are the advantages and limitations of CEOs on boards? If the CEO is on the board, should they have full voting rights? How do your colleagues approach this decision?
What is the Best Size for Your Board?
Fundamentals
This article will help your board consider three main questions:
What are the advantages and limitations of large versus small boards?
What size will help us best accomplish our mission?
How do our colleagues approach this question?
Although board size varies significantly among different…
Board Compensation
Fundamentals
Introduction
Should your foundation board members be compensated for service, or should they serve in a voluntary capacity? Whether you are considering this issue for the first time, or whether it’s a question that has arisen before, compensation has become more than an internal management…
Articulating the Foundation's Mission
Fundamentals
A mission statement gives all who are interested an idea of why the foundation was established and how it defines its own work. The statement is usually broad, worded to reflect the donor’s intent, and give a flavor of the foundation’s values and interests. For family foundation trustees,…
Understanding Private Operating Foundations
What is a private operating foundation?
A private operating foundation is a type of Section 501(c)(3) charity that uses its income primarily to directly operate a charitable program. For example, a private operating foundation may be a museum that is established and funded predominately by one or…
Supporting Employee Volunteerism
Legal Compliance Guidance
Question: May a private company foundation support the volunteer activities of the sponsoring corporation's employees?
Answer: Company foundations sometimes play a role in coordinating volunteer activities of the sponsoring corporation's employees. The IRS has approved company foundations'…
Substantiation for Employee Contributions
Question: If our corporate foundation accepts contributions from employees, should we provide the contributors with receipts?
Answer: Yes, you should try to acknowledge all contributions and, if the contribution is $250 or more, you must provide a receipt. Corporate foundations organized as…
Reporting Direct Charitable Activities
Legal Compliance Guidance
Question:
Our company foundation sometimes carries out its own charitable programs. For example, last year we organized a conference on the topic of evaluating program impact for our grantees and other nonprofits in one of our communities. Where does this information get reported on our Form 990-…
Public Disclosure of Form 990-PF
Legal Compliance Guidance
Question: Our staff just received a request for a copy of our foundation's Form 990-PF. Are we required to provide this information?
Answer: Yes. A foundation’s tax return on Form 990-PF provides a wealth of information about the organization including asset size, board members, salary information…
Private Foundation Excise Tax Rates
Legal Compliance Guidance
The Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA) increased the excise tax rates for violations of many of the private foundation rules. In most cases, the first-tier taxes were doubled. These changes are effective for private foundations upon the foundation’s first tax year beginning after August 17, 2006…
Fundamentals
Many foundations may be uncertain about what’s involved when it comes to succession planning. Some wonder why they should worry about the future at all when they have so much work to do in managing their grantmaking, community leadership and development, and administrative duties.
Succession…
Legal Compliance Guidance
Question: Why do Council on Foundations membership materials and invoices state that if my foundation and corporate giving program share a membership, dues must be paid by the corporation? Is this true for other memberships as well?
Answer: IRS self-dealing rules prohibit private foundations (…
Fundamentals
Working with the media should be part of your overall communications plan. Even if you don't have a written communications plan, you still need to focus some attention toward the media. Working with the media—that is, public relations—establishes a strong public presence and image for your…