Family Foundations

The Council on Foundations defines a family foundation as one whose funds are derived from members of a single family, though this is not a legal term and has no precise definition. The Council on Foundations suggests that family foundations have at least one family member serving as an officer or board member of the foundation and, as the donor, that individual (or a relative) must play a significant role in governing and/or managing the foundation. Most family foundations are run by family members who serve as trustees or directors on a voluntary basis. In many cases, second- and third-generation descendants of the original donors manage the foundation.

Family foundations make up over half of all private (family, corporate, independent, and operating) foundations, or 40,456 out of approximately 73,764 foundations (Foundation Center, 2011). Family foundations make up approximately one-third of the Council’s membership.

Family foundations range in asset size from a few hundred thousand dollars to more than $1 billion. The holdings of family foundations total approximately $294 billion, or about 44 percent of all foundation holdings of $662 billion. Despite this, three out of five family foundations hold assets of less than $1 million. Family foundations gave away approximately $21.3 billion in grants in 2011 (The Foundation Center, 2011).

Below is everything on our site for family foundations. 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.

Sample Conflict of Interest Policy

Legal Compliance Guidance
Editable conflict of interest policies for staff and board members. 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, and the…

Starting a Foundation

Fundamentals
Does the Council on Foundations provide assistance with starting a foundation? Can we join the Council before our foundation is formed? What are the general steps in starting a foundation? Should we set up our foundation as a trust or a corporation? What are the costs of starting a…

Public Disclosure Requirements for Foundations

Legal Compliance Guidance
Every organization exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code is required to disclose certain information to the public: The organization’s exemption application, Form 1023, is subject to public disclosure, along with any documents supporting the application and any letters from…

IRS Search Tool: Select Check

External Resource
Grantmakers searching for more detailed information about the charitable status of their potential grantees may find the answers they need in the IRS Select Check tool. This IRS online search tool allows the user to: (1) search the IRS public charity list, known as IRS Publication 78, for…

Career Pathways

About the Career Pathways ProgramCareer Pathways is a leadership program that aims to awaken inherent and authentic leadership in individuals committed to strengthening their practice and building connections. This 10-month hybrid program is rigorous, highly personal, and built for mid-to senior-…

Farm Aid: How Generosity Builds Family Farms

For generations, America's family farmers have fed this nation, sustained its rural communities and kept alive a way of life rooted in hard work and the land. In the early 1980s, that way of life came under threat. Plummeting land values and rising interest rates drove thousands of farms into…

Philanthropy's Response to the 2026 Earthquakes in Venezuela

OverviewTwo cataclysmic earthquakes hit northern Venezuela on June 24, 2026 - the first 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit San Felipe and the second 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck just three miles north in Yumare. The death toll has risen to over 500 people and nearly 3,000 people injured. These…

Washington Snapshot: Summary of Proposed Uniform Guidance regulations

In the previous edition of Snapshot, we shared that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released proposed regulations to revise the Uniform Guidance for federal financial assistance. Review our full summary of the proposed regulations and impact on philanthropy. We are preparing to submit…

Our Shared Future: Integrating Approaches to Social Change

During the Council’s recent Building Together conference, the Horizons Project was pleased to present two workshops on our Block, Bridge, Build (BBB) framework. The unseasonally warm sun we enjoyed in Seattle that first week in May was in stark contrast with the stormy skies and tumult felt around…

A Running Start for Kids in Battle Creek, MI

Battle Creek, Michigan is a working American city that has always invested in its children. Its public schools carry that commitment. Battle Creek Public Schools had real strengths, real potential, and real gaps to close. By 2017, the district was serving the city's highest-need students with…

Changing How the World Feeds Itself

For most of his life, John van Hengel had never given much thought to where his next meal was coming from. A successful salesman in California, he'd built a good life. Then, in 1967, circumstances brought him to Phoenix, where he found himself eating at the same soup kitchen where he volunteered.…

Council Conferences

At the Council, we approach conferences a little bit differently.  Rather than hosting a traditional annual conference, we convene our community through two distinctly different events, each designed with a specific intention and focus. Together, they reflect how the Council shows up for the…

Proposed Rule: Regulation on Federal Financial Assistance

Last Updated: June 3, 2026OverviewOn May 29, 2026, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued proposed regulations to revise the Uniform Guidance, which governs federal financial assistance across all federal agencies. OMB states that the proposal is intended to improve transparency,…

Bridging Differences Leadership Cohort Alumni Office Hours - September

Bridging Differences Leadership Cohort office hours offer cohort members a space to reflect on their learnings and ask questions about program content. This year, we're excited to open these sessions to cohort alumni. These sessions are an opportunity to reconnect with the program's themes and…

Generosity Builds

Generosity Builds is a storytelling campaign from the Council on Foundations highlighting the ways charitable foundations show up as a nonpartisan force for good in our communities — from scientific breakthroughs to community childcare, veterans support, and disaster relief.

On a Minnesota Farm, Generosity Comes First

Every fall, before the harvest is sold, Pat and Kristin Duncanson keep a promise: the first load goes to the community, not to market.The Duncansons own Highland Family Farms in Mapleton, Minnesota—a 5th-generation family farm that Pat and Kristin now run alongside two of their four children. Each…
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