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.
Public Policy Action Network
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.…
Washington Snapshot: Talks Ongoing on Democrats' Legislative Priorities
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Talks Ongoing on Democrats' Legislative Priorities
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Join the…
Career Pathways 2022 Program Information - Office Hours
Join us for the 2022 Career Pathways Program Information Office Hours to answer any questions you have about the program, application, Waldman scholarship, etc.!
The 2022 Career Pathways program is expanding! We will host a spring cohort from February to June 2022 and a fall…
New Member Orientation - Member Benefits & Networking
Is your organization a new Council member or are you new to the Council community? Please join us (virtually) to celebrate you, our newest members, during our 2021 Member Week.
This interactive session will help you take advantage of exclusive Council member benefits, while also connecting with…
Aligning Endowments & Investments with Foundation Values
As philanthropy continues to support nonprofits and invest in local communities, foundations across the country are looking beyond their grantmaking to better leverage their endowments and investments to further their mission. The recent 2020 Study of Investment of Endowments for…
2021 Membership Week
Celebrate, Convene, Connect
In 2021, the Council hosted a series of virtual events that offered members the opportunity to hear directly from Council leaders and peers on some of philanthropy’s most important challenges and opportunities. These free events provided connection, insight, and…
Ask Me About the Council's Strategy with Kathleen Enright and Council Leaders
Ask Kathleen & Council Leaders about our 2021 - 2025 Strategic Direction and beyond! Send in your questions about the future of the Council, maybe you are curious about the Council's three strategic areas of focus:
Embrace Better Ways of Operating Within Organizations
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2021 Member Week - Ask Me Anything FAQs
What is the Philanthropy Exchange?
The Philanthropy Exchange is a peer-to-peer platform that connects Council members around shared interests, topics, or resources. The Exchange is a member-only benefit open to Council members and invited guests. To help you get started on the Exchange, here is a…
PhilEx Live: Return to Office Vaccine Policies
Developed out of a trending conversation on the Philanthropy Exchange (PhilEx), the Council invites you to join a member-only peer-led discussion of how foundations are approaching COVID-19 vaccine policies in their return-to-office planning.
Join peers from across the country in a discussion…
Washington Snapshot: Senate Approves Short-Term Debt Ceiling Fix
What You Need to Know About Public Policy This Week...
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Senate Approves Short-Term Debt Ceiling Fix
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USDA Announces Intent to Establish an Equity Commission, Solicits Nominations for Membership
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2021 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Report Shows Increased Diversity in Leadership Roles
The Council on Foundations (“the Council”) today announced the release of the 2021 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Report (GSB), an annual analysis of key human resources trends that includes the most comprehensive data on the composition and compensation of U.S. foundations. Published for the first…
Leveraging Equity to Defund Hate: Values-Aligned Philanthropy in Practice
Many of us know that the philanthropic community has a critical role to play in addressing the increase in hate and hate crimes, but it’s not easy to figure out how to tackle this work.
The Council on Foundations’ white paper, Values-Aligned Philanthropy: Foundations Resisting Hate and Extremism,…
2021 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Report: Key Findings
Publication, Research
Drawing from data provided by 952 institutional responses, the 2021 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 and operations leaders from community foundations,…
Career Pathways - 2024 Program
The key to Career Pathways’ effectiveness is its unique design. The program is rigorous, highly personal, and built exclusively for philanthropic professionals. The 2024 program will feature both in-person and virtual components.
Every participant becomes part of a small group of grantmakers who…
Washington Snapshot: Government Shutdown Averted: Debt Ceiling Looms
What You Need to Know About Public Policy This Week...
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Government Shutdown Averted: Debt Ceiling Looms
IRS Release "Tax Tip" on Charitable Deduction
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Wallace Global Fund and MacArthur Foundation Briefing on Climate Movement and Systemic Racism
Please join us for an important conversation about the climate movement and systemic racism in the United States. We often hear that “durable” US climate policy requires bipartisan buy-in and agreement, but durable policy also requires a movement that can maintain and enhance a functioning…