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.
Washington Snapshot: Federal Plan to Close Housing Supply Gap
What's Happening This Week...
Getting Started with Values-Aligned Philanthropy
Council Member Week: Federal Roundtables and More!
Congressional Update
IRS Releases Guidance on Employer-Leave-Based Donations to Ukraine…
Washington Snapshot: Register for AmeriCorps CEO Meet and Greet with Philanthropy
What's Happening This Week...
Uniting Americans Through Service: Philanthropy and AmeriCorps "Meet and Greet"
Congressional Update
Small Business Administration Expands Rural HUBZones
Federal Health Benefits Extended to…
Philanthropy's Response to New Mexico Wildfires
OVERVIEW
The Calf Canyon Fire and Hermits Peak Fire merged into what has become the largest active wildfire in the U.S. and the second-largest wildfire in New Mexico's history- the fires have burned more than 250,000 acres. On May 4, President Biden approved a major disaster declaration for…
Policy Update - June 2022
Reach out to educate@cof.org for access to the recording.
Thank you to those who joined the Council’s Capitol Hill consultants Ken Kies, Managing Director, Federal Policy Group and Arshi Siddiqui, Partner, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP. In the conversation moderated by Stephanie Powers,…
Washington Snapshot: Public-Philanthropic Partnerships Boost Support for Students
What's Happening This Week...
Uniting Americans Through Service: Philanthropy and AmeriCorps "Meet and Greet"
Senate Holds Hearing on Tax-Exempt Organizations' Political Activity
White House Proclaims National Mental Health…
Roundtable Conversations with Federal Agencies
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Council members were invited to join informal roundtable discussions with several federal agencies to learn more about their implementation of the American Rescue Plan and other priorities, including the cross-government equity action plans…
Private Foundation Executive Virtual Roundtable
Building a culture of trust within your organization, where everyone has a clear understanding of mission, vision, values, and direction, requires the executive to navigate often competing priorities from their board and staff. Leaders must balance multiple perspectives and personalities, all while…
2022 Membership Week
This year the Council will host a series of virtual events that will offer members the opportunity to hear directly from Council leaders and peers on some of philanthropy’s most important challenges and opportunities. We hope these free events will provide connection, insight, and inspiration for…
2022 Public Policy Summit
Join us for the Council on Foundations’ 2022 Public Policy Summit – where we will come together as a virtual community to explore philanthropy’s role as a bridge-builder. Gain an insider’s view of how the midterm elections reshape the political landscape for philanthropy and learn how foundations…
2022 HR Retreat
Over the past two years, the purpose and design of the workplace, a term once used to describe the physical location of an organization, has evolved to include an ever-changing and complex mix of technology, places, and people. Throughout this time, philanthropic employers and HR leaders have…
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…
Washington Snapshot: Nonprofit Strength and Partnership Act Introduced in the House
What's Happening This Week...
Uniting Americans Through Service: Philanthropy and AmeriCorps "Meet and Greet"
Nonprofit Strength and Partnership Act Introduced in the House
Council Submits Comments on Foreign Agents Registration Act…
Submitted Testimony on “Enhancing the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938”
Thank you for the opportunity to provide written testimony for the record on the subject of “Enhancing the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938.” We commend the committee for holding a hearing on this important topic as nonprofit organizations continue to respond to global crises and seek…
Legal Office Hours - Global - June 2022
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As part of our Member Week programming, Council attornies Remy Barnwell and Ben McDearmon hosted Legal Office Hours - Global Topics. This members-only Q&A discussion addressed legal questions, trends in global philanthropy, and the…
Uniting Americans through Service: The Power of AmeriCorps and Philanthropy Working in Partnership
View our conversation with Michael D. Smith, newly appointed CEO of AmeriCorps! The conversation, hosted in partnership with Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement, explored how philanthropy and AmeriCorps (the federal agency for national service and volunteering) can connect to advance the…
Definitions of Hate and Extremism
Anti-Defamation League
Hate Group: An organization whose goals and activities are primarily or substantially based on a shared antipathy towards people of one or more other different races, religions, ethnicities/nationalities/national origins, genders, and/or sexual identities. The mere presence…