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.
Equivalency Determination or Expenditure Responsibility
Legal Compliance Guidance
Private foundations wishing to make a cross-border grant must ensure that:
The grant is clearly for a charitable purpose, and
The grant counts as a qualifying distribution for the purpose of meeting the foundation’s annual distribution requirement.
The easiest way for a private foundation to…
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…
Document Retention & Destruction Guidelines
Sample Document
This Document Retention and Destruction Policy of the Council on Foundations ("the Council") identifies the record retention responsibilities of staff, volunteers, members of the Board of Directors, and outsiders for maintaining and documenting the storage and destruction of the Council’s documents…
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 Program
Career 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…
This is What Philanthropy Is Built for
When change and uncertainty abound, it’s hard to know what to do. For many philanthropic organizations, and especially our nonprofit partners, so much is at stake right now. But times like these are precisely what philanthropy is built for. Philanthropy consistently steps up during difficult times…
Philanthropy's Response to the 2025 Myanmar and Thailand Earthquake
Overview
A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar and Thailand. The earthquake is the most powerful to strike Myanmar in over a century, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Entire buildings have collapsed in Bangkok and Mandalay, causing thousands of people to be…
Washington Snapshot: Executive Orders We're Tracking
In this edition of Washington Snapshot we share the President's the recent executive actions most relevant to the sector.
How Funders and Communities Can Advance a Multiracial Democracy in Education
In this interactive workshop, education funders will actively explore how to improve funder-grantee relationships to strengthen public education as a training ground for democracy and as a space for building more resilient and informed students and communities. Participants will also learn how…
Doubling Down on Racial Equity
Facing a so-called DEI backlash, some institutions have become fearful and risk averse. But many Association of Black Fundraising Executives (ABFE) members are instead doubling down on their commitment to racial equity during a critical moment in the movement’s history. This session will separate…