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.

Council on Foundations Applauds Re-Introduction of the “Workforce Development through Post-Graduation Scholarships Act”

The Council on Foundations applauds the reintroduction of the Workforce Development Through Post-Graduation Scholarships Act (S.2191/ H.R4095) by Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Representatives Darin LaHood (R-IL) and Terri Sewell (D-AL). The bill would…

Unexpected Partners and Unlikely Allies: Seeking Common Ground at Leading Together 2021

When I formally entered the field of philanthropy, I was certain of my commitment to improving the overall quality of life for children and families. But to be frank, what I was not certain of was the full scope of the vast and unique role philanthropy could play in facilitating such change. As a…

Normal Wasn’t Working: Raising the Bar at Leading Together 2021

The idea of raising the bar in the philanthropic sector is a great one, but we need to acknowledge some potentially hard truths first: a) the bar is actually set pretty low, so the idea of raising it shouldn’t be the pinnacle of our aspirations; b) we haven’t reached the goals represented by the…

Storytelling as a Pathway to Equity: Leading Together 2021

Like many of us in the philanthropic sector, I have, over the past year, been to more than a few webinars and conferences on philanthropy’s role in advancing equity. It can often feel like we’re all following a standard script. We acknowledge that racism exists, and has in fact existed for a while…

The LA Story: Bringing All Voices to the Table at Leading Together 2021

Over the past year, the COVID-19 crisis and violent racism against the Black and AAPI communities provided a moment of reckoning for philanthropic practitioners across the United States. We can capitalize on this moment if we work together, and if we understand that the greater good is more than a…

Reflective Break: Summarize It

Join your fellow conference attendees for a fun activity to exchange thoughts and lessons learned from Leading Together 2021. We will utilize a Jam Board to help attendees visualize concepts and takeaways to ensure you can continue to share the knowledge you gained with your colleagues and networks.

Pop Up Session: Accelerating Charitable Efforts Act (ACE Act)

On June 9, Senators King (I-ME) and Grassley (R-IA) introduced the Accelerating Charitable Efforts Act (ACE Act) — a bill that would have far reaching impacts on the philanthropic sector. In this conversation, we will share what’s in the ACE Act, talk about why the Council is opposed,…

Summary of Accelerating Charitable Efforts Act ("ACE Act")

The ACE Act, sponsored by Sen. Angus King (I-ME) and Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), would modify existing rules relating to donor advised funds (“DAFs”), make certain changes to the rules for the excise tax on undistributed income of private foundations, and exempt certain private foundations from the…

Council on Foundations Opposes the Accelerating Charitable Efforts Act (ACE Act)

On June 9, 2021, Senators King (I-ME) and Grassley (R-IA) introduced the Accelerating Charitable Efforts (ACE) Act. The Council on Foundations opposes this legislation. The bill has several provisions that would negatively impact the philanthropic sector, including: Establishing new and…

Reflective Break: Summarize It

Join your fellow conference attendees for a fun activity to exchange thoughts and lessons learned from Leading Together 2021. We will utilize a Jam Board to help attendees visualize concepts and takeaways to ensure you can continue to share the knowledge you gained with your colleagues and networks.

Reflective Break: Goal Setting

It’s always a good time of year to set goals! Whether you’ve kept up with your professional or personal goals or need a reset (no judgment!), join us for this quick session to get you back on track with your goals for 2021 and beyond.

HUD Secretary's Award for Public Philanthropic Partnerships

The Secretary's Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships recognizes cross-sector partnerships between the philanthropic and public sectors that effectively increase the quality of life for low- and moderate-income residents across all American geographies—urban, suburban, and rural.…

Town Hall: Unveiling the Council's New Strategic Direction

How can philanthropy meet the needs of our communities and our world with fierce urgency? What does philanthropy need from the Council to be able to shape a future that is better for everyone? The board and staff of the Council on Foundations, with generous member guidance, have created a new…

Leading Together 2021 - All Programming

  All programming

Raising the Bar: How can Philanthropy Help Build a Better Future for Everyone?

Sponsored by Walton Family Foundation How do we rebuild in the wake of a series of global crises? And what is philanthropy’s role in the work ahead? Hear compelling visions from three innovative thinkers with different perspectives on and experiences with philanthropy as they motivate and…

Designing Women: Why Women of Color Hold the Key to True Equity

Join us for a conversation with a group of highly experienced women of color from different sectors within philanthropy and investment who coalesced to create a Design Council, ultimately helping to build the investment strategy of a major foundation. We’ll share both their vision for the…
Subscribe to Family Foundations