Private Foundations
Private foundations make grants based on charitable endowments. The endowment funds come from one or a small handful of sources -- an individual, a family or a corporation. Because of their endowments, they are focused primarily on grantmaking and generally do not raise funds or seek public financial support the way public charities (like community foundations) must.
“Private foundation” is the umbrella term that includes corporate, independent, family, and operating foundations. As of 2011, there were 73,764 private foundations in the United States (Foundation Center, 2011).
In 2011, private foundations held more than $604 billion in assets and gave away more than $45 billion (Foundation Center, 2011).
Below is everything on our site for private 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.
Indicates Members-Only Content
Creating New Community Space After Fires in California
Sarah Wagner (@heysarawagner on Instagram) shares how her community built Beeline Blooms, a dahlia farm and gathering place to bring back a little color, beauty, and joy.
body.group-subsites.node--type-blog.gb-anim .gb-reveal {
opacity: 1 !important;
}
blockquote {
border-left: none !important;…
Lending a Helping Hand after Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton in Florida
Raven Kramer shares how the generosity of her community in the wake of multiple hurricanes changed her life and her outlook on the world.
body.group-subsites.node--type-blog.gb-anim .gb-reveal {
opacity: 1 !important;
}
View this post on Instagram …
Paying Generosity Forward in Texas
Ana Cruz Hollingsworth shares how every day generosity changed her life, and how she kept a promise to herself to one day return that generosity.
body.group-subsites.node--type-blog.gb-anim .gb-reveal {
opacity: 1 !important;
}
View this post on Instagram …
Building Community through the Arts in Alabama
Charlie Desi shares how the SHOUT Film Festival, with support from community members and organizations like the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, are creating space for LGBTQ+ stories to be seen, celebrated, and shared in Birmingham, Alabama.
body.group-subsites.node--type-blog.gb-anim .…
Responding to Proposed IRS Regulations: Racial Nondiscrimination in Private Schools
On September 3, 2026, the Department of Treasury (Treasury) and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would end federal tax-exempt status for private schools that engage in racial discrimination. You can read our detailed summary of the proposed regulation for…
Council on Foundations Statement on Proposed IRS Regulations Affecting Private Schools
Media Contact: Brandon Cox, Director of Communications, brandon.cox@cof.orgWASHINGTON — On September 3rd, the Department of the Treasury and the IRS released proposed regulations addressing racial nondiscrimination requirements for private schools. Kathleen Enright, president and CEO of the Council…
Racial Nondiscrimination in Private Schools
Legal Compliance Guidance
Last Updated: September 4, 2026.BackgroundOn September 3, 2026, the Department of Treasury (Treasury) and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would end federal tax-exempt status for private schools that engage in racial discrimination.Historically, courts…
Policy Update: Public Policy Doctrine Proposed Regulations
On September 3, the Department of the Treasury and the IRS published proposed regulations that state that a private school cannot qualify as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) if it discriminates on the basis of race, color, or national or ethnic origin in the administration of any educational…
Fighting for Housing Justice in New Jersey
James Cooper Jr. shares how the Fair Share Housing Center uses legal, policy, and community-building strategies to fight for housing justice in New Jersey and beyond, with support from funders like the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation.
body.group-subsites.node--type-blog.gb-anim .gb-reveal {
opacity…
Supporting Children and Families Across Oklahoma
Kristen shares how the Oklahoma Office of Family Representation is supporting families as they navigate the child welfare system across the state.
body.group-subsites.node--type-blog.gb-anim .gb-reveal {
opacity: 1 !important;
}
View this post on Instagram …
Preserving the Heartbeat of Albina: Billy Webb Elks Lodge
By investing in the Lodge, we joined local efforts to combat the erasure of what was once considered the Soul of Portland.Peering through the newly restored windows of the Billy Webb Elks Lodge, you would never know a fire devastated the building just three years ago. The ballroom chandeliers still…
How Funders Can Mitigate Political Violence
As a workshop partner for Building Together 2026, Over Zero has created this blog post to share additional insights. The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Council.Political Violence and its ImpactYou may have felt it recently: a slight…
Philanthropy's Response to the 2026 Floods in Nepal
OverviewCatastrophic flash floods have swept through Nepal and communities along the Bhote Koshi river system, taking over 900 lives and leaving over 4,700 people missing. Homes and critical infrastructure have been destroyed, while floodwaters have devastated remote communities across the…
2026 Changes to Mexico’s Anti-Money Laundering Law
This page will be updated as new information becomes available. Please bookmark it for future reference. Last updated August 26, 2026.Mexico’s Federal Law for the Prevention and Identification of Transactions with Illicitly Sourced Funds (LFPIORPI) is the country’s primary anti-money laundering law…
2026 Amendments to India's Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA)
This page will be updated as new information becomes available. Please bookmark it for future reference. Last updated August 26, 2026.India’s Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) is the cornerstone law regulating how nonprofits in India receive foreign funding, including from U.S.-based…
How 20 Chicagoans Came Together to Make $1.6 Million in Grants
Of the 20 Chicago residents deciding the grant awards, none was a grantmaker. One owned a coffee-roasting business; another a dessert and sweets company. A student intern deliberated alongside veterans of community development and organizing. A few had Ivy League degrees. One had spent time in…