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.
Council on Foundations Board of Directors - Official Notice
Board of Directors Official Notice
The Council on Foundations Governance Committee has nominated the following individuals to serve on the Council’s Board of Directors:
Class of 2017
Ken M. Jones, II*
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
The Annie E. Casey Foundation
Baltimore
Ann M. Cramer…
Washington Snapshot - March 28, 2014
Council Releases Summary of Camp Bill
For the past few weeks, we’ve working to analyze Chairman Camp’s tax reform bill, assess its potential impact on philanthropic and charitable organizations, coordinate with our colleagues in the field, and most importantly determine how to best represent the…
2014 Council on Foundations-Commonfund Study of Investments for Private Foundations (CCSF)
Participate now in the in the 2014 Council on Foundations-Commonfund Study of Investments for Private Foundations (CCSF) being conducted by the Council and the Commonfund Institute. This study, now offered for a second year, will enhance the understanding of key trends in the field and of…
Washington Snapshot - March 21, 2014
Council to Senate: Preserve & Expand IRA Rollover
As our members know, the Council has long supported a permanent extension of the IRA charitable rollover, and an expanding the rollover by eliminating the $100,000 cap, allowing donors to make rollovers beginning at age 59 ½, and permitting…
NCG's 2014 New Grantmakers Institute
Register Today
Are you new to philanthropy and unsure about the due diligence process for making a successful grant? Have you been in the field for several years, but are still unclear on the legal aspects of grantmaking or how to spot red flags in grantee financial statements? If you answered "yes…
Leading Forward: Innovations in Philanthropy Webinar Series
Next month, the Council on Foundations and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation are kicking off a new webinar series on issues affecting philanthropy at a national level. Titled Leading Forward: Innovations in Philanthropy, the webinars will focus on three topics that are contributing to the…
Washington Snapshot - March 14, 2014
Camp Bill Sets Critical Precedent
Stakeholders in every sector—including the Council—continue to delve into House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp’s (R-MI-4) Tax Reform Act of 2014 to get to the bottom of its wide-reaching implications.
As we’ve been commenting since the bill’s…
Approaches to Place-Based Philanthropy
Communities across the country are experiencing rapid demographic shifts, and foundations that use place-based giving strategies must adapt their grantmaking to recognize these changes. Join us in a discussion about the multiple ways foundations define place-based philanthropy, its potential…
Blurred Lines and New Approaches to Working with Business, Nonprofits, and Government
As communities are being asked to address growing social challenges with diminishing resources, the field of philanthropy is placing increasing emphasis on collaboration with businesses, nonprofits, and government in its work for the common good. The webinar will examine the dynamic role of…
The Practices and Opportunities of Big Data in Philanthropy
‘Big Data’ is a hot topic in philanthropy. But what does it actually represent, and how can foundations be most effective in using this data to help inform and advance their work? The first installment of our Leading Forward webinar series will highlight different ways foundations are using Big…
Speaker Highlights
Speaker Highlights
Kate Ahern, Vice President of Social Innovation, Case Foundation
Ahern oversees a portfolio of activities, including the foundation’s impact investing work and its Be Fearless initiative. She also oversees corporate pro bono campaign A Billion + Change. In addition, she…
Washington Snapshot - March 7, 2014
Philanthropy Leaders Converge on D.C. for Philanthropy Week
This was an eventful week at the intersection of philanthropy and public policy! Over 200 philanthropic leaders gathered in D.C. for the first annual Philanthropy Week in Washington, President Obama released his Fiscal Year 2015 Budget…
3 Ways to Bring Philanthropy Week to Your Community
Right now, over 200 leaders from across the philanthropic sector are uniting in Washington, D.C. to tell their lawmakers that thriving philanthropy builds thriving communities. As lawmakers contemplate comprehensive tax reform, individual changes to the tax code and the President’s FY2015 budget,…
President's Budget Proposes Key Domestic Investments
President Obama unveiled his Fiscal Year 2015 Budget yesterday, which sets forth the Administration’s spending and policy priorities for the coming year. The Budget presents a fiscal plan oriented around three White House priorities: accelerating economic growth, expanding opportunity for all…
Washington Snapshot - February 28, 2014
Chairman Camp Releases Tax Reform Proposal
Dozens of provisions impact tax-exempt organizations
As we let our readers know in a Washington Snapshot Breaking News alert on Wednesday, House Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI-4) released his long-awaited comprehensive tax reform bill this week.…
Council on Foundations, Sector Leaders Join Forces Philanthropy Week in Washington March 3-7, 2014
As President Obama presents his proposed budget and as Congress considers comprehensive tax reform, proposed policy changes could have a significant – and potentially harmful – impact on philanthropy’s effectiveness. That’s why the Council on Foundations is pleased to welcome nearly 150 leaders…