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: FARA Hearing, Judge Jackson's Confirmation, and More
What's Happening This Week...
On the Blog: Jamie Merisotis, Chair of New Ethics Task Force
Foundations on the Hill 2022 Wraps Up
Council Submits Testimony to Senate Finance Committee
House Holds Hearing on Enhancements to…
Submitted Testimony on “Examining Charitable Giving and Trends in the Nonprofit Sector”
Thank you for the opportunity to provide written testimony for the record on the subject of “Examining Charitable Giving and Trends in the Nonprofit Sector.” We commend the committee for holding this hearing during a pivotal moment for nonprofits and their philanthropic partners.
The Council on…
Washington Snapshot: Register Now for Foundations on the Hill 2022
What's Happening This Week...
Register Now for Foundations on the Hill
Last Chance to Apply for HUD Secretary's Award
House to Vote on Retirement Bill Next Week
President Biden to Release FY2023 Budget Request Monday…
Washington Snapshot: Summary of Senate Finance Committee's Hearing on Charitable Giving
What's Happening This Week...
Senate Finance Committee Holds Hearing on Charitable Giving
Congressional Research Service Releases Report on Charitable Deduction
Census Undercount of Young Children Persists in 2020
National…
Guidance for Making Grants to Support Ukraine
Legal Compliance Guidance
Over the last two weeks, we’ve received scores of questions from the field about how to help the Ukrainian people during the ongoing Russian invasion, including during our recent webinar with the State Department. The outpouring of support and willingness to make immediate relief funds available…
Washington Snapshot: Members of Ways and Means Committee Send Letter in Support of DAFs
What's Happening This Week...
Senate Finance Committee to Hold Hearing on Charitable Giving and Nonprofit Sector
Summary: Congress's FY2022 Government Funding Bill
Members of the Ways and Means Committee Send Letter Opposing…
Public Policy Action Network - June Update Meeting
What is the Council’s Public Policy Action Network?
The Council’s Public Policy Action Network is a 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.…
Public Policy Action Network - May Update Meeting
What is the Council’s Public Policy Action Network?
The Council’s Public Policy Action Network is a 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.…
HR Roundtable - April 2022
Join this peer-to-peer conversation with HR, Culture and Talent leaders in philanthropy to discuss best practices and new ideas related to talent management, organizational culture, and other operational functions. In partnership with the Disability & Philanthropy Forum, this informal…
Global Philanthropy Update - March 2022
Funders around the world have sprung into action to support those at risk during the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Eastern Europe. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24 has already resulted in more than 800,000 Ukrainians fleeing the conflict and seeking refuge abroad. As the conflict…
Webinar: Philanthropy's Response to the Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis
The Council on Foundations and the U.S. State Department hosted an urgent discussion on how philanthropy can best support the humanitarian response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Feburary 24, 2022. Representatives from the State Department Office of Global Partnerships and the…
Philanthropy for Ukraine
Overview
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February of 2022, a humanitarian and economic disaster has rippled across the world. We will continue to update this page as the crisis unfolds and more information becomes available.
As of August 15, 2024 Candid has tracked:
6,003 grants worth $2,…
Council on Foundations Announces Creation of Ethics Task Force
WASHINGTON, DC - The Council on Foundations announced today that it will convene a new task force in the coming months to lift up clear ethical standards for members and to underscore philanthropy’s profound responsibility to the greater good. This task force, chaired by Jamie Merisotis,…
Strengthening Nonprofit Resiliency: What Your Foundation Can Do Now
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the philanthropic community recognized the critical need to respond with fierce urgency to support nonprofit partners. Over 800 organizations pledged to ease or eliminate restrictions on grants and reduce what is asked of grantees, aiming to support to…
2023 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Survey (GSB)
Since 1980, the Council's Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Survey has provided the sector with the most comprehensive data on staff composition and compensation in the United States. Grantmakers rely on this annual report to plan budgets, benchmark personnel policies and practices, determine salary…
Intergovernmental Personnel Act Philanthropy Talent Pipeline Webinar
The Council and the Partnership for Public Service have teamed up to create the IPA Philanthropy Talent Pipeline, a new opportunity for foundations to loan staff and grantee experts to federal agencies for a limited “tour of duty.” The Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) permits federal…