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.

Sample Expenditure Report

Sample Document
This customizable sample report allows you to track expenditures by grantees.

Sample Docket Write-up of Program Goals and Strategies

Sample Document
This sample docket write-up allows you to customize your program goal and strategies.

Sample Docket Format

Sample Completed Docket Write-up

A Colleague's Perspective on Trustee Orientation

External Resource
By Anne H. Morgan Becoming a trustee of a family foundation can be a complex, confusing, and confounding experience. Suddenly you are thrust into a room full of persons whom you thought you knew, but now they are all in different roles. Your favorite aunt, who has always seemed so demure and self…

A Colleague's Perspective on Mission and Vision Statements

Fundamentals
This perspective offered by William Graustein of the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund in 2013 provides useful context on creating your own foundation's mission and vision statements.  When you get down to it, the reason a charitable foundation exists is to change the world or, at least…

Closing Documents Checklist

Sample Document
As you prepare to close out grants, this customizable checklist can help ensure that you've received the appropriate documents from grantees.

Sample Grant Closing Letter

Sample Document
You can send this customizable sample closing letter to grantees upon the conclusion of their grant.

Sample Grant Close-Out Form

Sample Document
This sample grant close-out form can help you wrap up outstanding grants.

Board Member Orientation Materials

Sample Document
This resource outlines the onboarding process for a new board member.

The Savvy CEO

Publication
The role of the foundation CEO is pivotal to the success of a foundation’s goals. Even at foundations without staff, the tasks of the CEO do not disappear, but rather are carried out by board members. In this publication, we explore some of the critical issues and challenges that foundation CEOs…

Principles of Accountability for International Philanthropy

Publication
While cross-border philanthropy has much in common with domestic giving within a country, it also differs in significant and challenging ways. Language differences, communication across vast distances, unfamiliar cultural values and perspectives, multiple legal systems, and disparate accounting…

Sample Foreign Grant Expenditure Responsibility Letter

Sample Document
Sample foreign grant expenditure responsibility letter. 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 information…

Sample Expenditure Responsibility Grant Agreement

Sample Document
Editable grant agreement for grants requiring expenditure responsibility. 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…

Competencies for CEOs of Private Foundations

Publication
This document codifies the job functions of private foundation CEOs and the skills and knowledge needed to perform these functions, referred to as competencies.

Should CEOs Be on the Board?

Fundamentals
This briefing will help your board consider three main questions: what are the advantages and limitations of CEOs on boards? If the CEO is on the board, should they have full voting rights? How do your colleagues approach this decision?
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