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.
Philanthropy's Response to Gun Violence and Mass Shootings
Overview
Gun violence is a constant threat to communities across the United States. While mass shootings capture media attention and public outrage, gun violence is a specter over many Americans' daily lives.
Funders across the country have been called to action to address gun violence and…
Philanthropy Supporting Ukraine - December 2022
With the war in Ukraine far from over, the immediate wave of support from philanthropy has dwindled. However, the war continues to have devastating impacts on Ukraine, Ukrainians globally, global food insecurity, and the global economy. In partnership with the Community Foundations of Canada,…
2022 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Report: Key Findings
Publication, Research
Drawing from data provided by 1,003 institutional responses, the 2022 GSB Key Findings highlights important human resource trends that are shaping the philanthropic sector. This year’s key findings feature the voices of human resources professionals and leaders from across the sector as they…
Council on Foundations Recognizes 2022 Award Winners, Including Charles R. Anderson for Distinguished Service
The Council on Foundations today announced the winners of three Council awards. The 2022 Distinguished Service Award winner, Charles R. Anderson of the San Juan Island Community Foundation; and the 2022 Scrivner Award for Creative Grantmaking winner, the Social Equity Collaborative Fund at Catalyst…
Philanthropy Supporting Ukraine - November 2022
With the war in Ukraine far from over, the immediate wave of support from philanthropy has dwindled. However, the war continues to have devastating impacts on Ukraine, Ukrainians globally, global food insecurity, and the global economy. In partnership with the Community Foundations of Canada,…
2022 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Report: Board Compensation Tables
Publication, Research
The 2022 Board Compensation Tables provide foundation board and staff with the tools they need to benchmark their board compensation policies and practices against peers in the field. This report contains data collected through the Council’s 2022 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Survey and presented…
2022 Annual Member Meeting
The virtual 2022 Annual Member Meeting included:
Remarks from the 2022 Distinguished Service Award winner, Charles Anderson, Board of Directors and Chair Emeritus of the San Juan Island Community Foundation,
The State of the Council address from Kathleen Enright, President and CEO,…
Philanthropy's Response to Hurricane Ian
Overview
After causing an island-wide blackout on Cuba, Hurricane Ian hit Florida's west coast as one of the strongest and deadliest storms to ever make landfall since 1935. The hurricane made contact as a Category 4 storm, with a windfall of 150 mph and record-high storm surges. There were 125…
2022 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Report
Publication, Research
The 2022 Grantmaker Salary and Benefit report is updated with the most recent sector data. Information is presented by grantmaker type, foundation type, asset size, and geographic location. Additionally, 2022 report contents include:
Salary data on 10,304 full-time staff from 1,003…
The State of Global Giving by U.S. Foundations: 2022 Edition
Publication, Toolkit
For 25 years, the Council on Foundations and Candid have partnered on studies of globally focused giving by U.S. foundations. The new edition of The State of Global Giving by U.S. Foundations dives into 2016-2019 data to provide the latest perspective on how the nation’s foundations are supporting…
Philanthropy's Response to Hurricane Fiona
Overview
Heavy rains have swept Guadeloupe, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, leading to massive flooding, damage and destruction. Hurricane Fiona, a Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds of more than 111 mph, is continuing to wreak havoc throughout the Caribbean. Nearly 3.1 million…
Grantmaker Ethics and Accountability
Philanthropy has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years in terms of the sources of wealth underlying charitable gifts, the allocation of resources, and its decision-making processes. More than ever, those engaged in philanthropy need an ethical orientation to inform their work.
Combining…
PhilEx Live: Foundation Podcasts Lessons Learned
Join peers from across the country in a discussion focused on:
Why did your foundation choose to launch a podcast?
What are some tactics a foundation can use to grow its podcast audience?
How does your team select podcast interviewees and how often do you release new episodes?
What…
Leading Locally 2023
The Conference
Leading Locally was an informative, engaging, and energizing event where attendees developed practical skills and connected with peers on the issues that matter to our work. Here's a look back at some exciting moments from our time together.
Conference Photos
Leading Locally…
Public Policy Action Network - November 2022 Meeting
The Council’s Public Policy Action Network is a members-only group of foundation leaders committing their voices, experiences, and networks to engage and educate federal elected officials to foster a policy environment in which philanthropy can thrive. Policymakers depend on the voices and…
Public Policy Action Network - October 2022 Meeting
The Council’s Public Policy Action Network is a members-only group of foundation leaders committing their voices, experiences, and networks to engage and educate federal elected officials to foster a policy environment in which philanthropy can thrive. Policymakers depend on the voices and…