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.
2021 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Report
Publication, Research
The Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Report (GSB) provides salary, benefits, and diversity data for full-time staff at U.S. foundations to aid in budget planning and personnel practice benchmarking. Information is presented by grantmaker type, foundation type, asset size, and geographic location.…
Washington Snapshot: Congress Juggles Government Funding and Presidential Priorities
What You Need to Know About Public Policy This Week...
News From the Council
Congress Juggles Government Funding and Presidential Priorities
Operation Allies Welcome: Assisting Afghanistan Nationals' Resettlement in the U.S.
Child Tax Credit Sign-Up Deadline: October 15
Senate Confirms…
Washington Snapshot: Democrats Propose Tax Changes through Budget Reconciliation
What You Need to Know About Public Policy This Week...
News From the Council
Democrats Propose Tax Changes through Budget Reconciliation
IRS Issues Update on Private Foundation Self-Dealing
Secretary Yellen Warns about Debt Ceiling
OMB Releases Federal Agency Racial Equity Assessment…
The Backstop: An Underused Tool for Overcoming the Chicken and Egg Challenge
Nonprofits and their funders know this challenge all too well—an organization has a great idea, so they begin to seek capital from funders or foundations. They hear the same answer regularly – “It sounds like a great idea. Come back to us after you’re further along.”
This presents a chicken and egg…
Council on Foundations Launches Values-Aligned Philanthropy Initiative
In response to a rise in anti-democratic extremism and hate groups in the U.S., the Council on Foundations (Council) today released Values-Aligned Philanthropy: Foundations Resisting Hate and Extremism. The report and accompanying online resource hub are part of the Council’s efforts to prevent…
Sample Policies on Values-Aligned Philanthropy
Sample Document
Community Foundations
Borrego Valley Endowment Fund Sample Policy with “Do No Harm” Approach
Brooklyn Community Foundation DAF Anti-Hate Policy
Community Foundation of the Ozarks Sample Full DAF Policy and Procedures
East Bay Community Foundation Due Diligence Policy FAQ
East Bay Community…
Information on Hate Groups — Values-Aligned Philanthropy
External Resource
United States
Anti-Defamation League HEAT (Hate, Extremism, Anti-Semitism, Terrorism) Map
Center for American Progress Infographic on Islamophobia Network
Horizon Forum
Media Matters for America
Southern Poverty Law Center List of U.S. hate groups
Southern Poverty Law Center…
Organizational Resources on Values-Aligned Philanthropy
External Resource
Amalgamated Foundation 'Hate is Not Charitable' Campaign: Sign-On Campaign for Foundations and Organizations to Pledge to End Hate Funding
Anti-Defamation League and Charles Koch Institute Report: Communities Overcoming Extremism — the After Charlottesville Project
Color Of Change Is Attacking…
2021 Annual Member Meeting
Thank you to all who joined us for the Council's Annual Member Meeting. The virtual Member Meeting included:
Keynote remarks from Tara McKenzie Sandercock of the Greensboro Community Foundation, winner of the Distinguished Service Award
Remarks and updates from the Board regarding our…
Reports on Values-Aligned Philanthropy
External Resource
Anti-Defamation League: Extremist and Hate Groups May be Abusing NonProfit Status
Anti-Defamation League: Funding Hate — How White Supremacists Raise Their Money
Horizon Forum: The Hate Speech Debate: Implications for the Philanthropic Community
SPLC: Bankrolling Bigotry: An Overview of the…
501(c)(3)s and Public Policy Violation: A Fresh Look at Doctrine
Bob Jones University recently announced that it will regain its tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status on March 1, 2017. The University lost its tax exemption more than 30 years ago in a landmark Supreme Court case, Bob Jones University v. United States, 461 U.S. 574 (1983), due…
GlobalGiving: Trump Is Right-And Wrong-About Section 230
Dive into Section 230 of the United States Communications Decency Act with GlobalGiving CEO Alix Guerrier, and discover why it matters to a nonprofit on a mission to accelerate community-led change—and you.
GlobalGiving: A Journey Into The Neutrality Paradox
When and how should digital platforms—designed to be open and democratic—take responsibility for the content they host, and when should they take a stance—departing from a position of neutrality? GlobalGiving is on a journey to explore these issues, and is inviting you to join the exploration.
Resources on the Rise of Hate Funding — Values-Aligned Philanthropy
External Resource
Atlanta Daily World: Major charity distances itself from donations to controversial groups
Fidelity and Schwab Ban Gifts From Donor-Advised Funds to NRA-Affiliated Charities
‘Hate Groups’ Received Millions From 351 Charities and Foundations, Chronicle Review Finds
Opinion: How Philanthropy Can…
Resources on Neutrality Paradox, Free Speech, and Related Issues — Values-Aligned Philanthropy
External Resource
501(c)(3)s and Public Policy Violation: A Fresh Look at Doctrine
Alliance Magazine: Should corporate philanthropy be neutral?
GlobalGiving: A Journey Into The Neutrality Paradox
GlobalGiving: Trump Is Right—And Wrong—About Section 230
Horizon Forum: What Do the Experts Say: The Free…
‘You Get Proud by Practicing’: The Path to Disability Inclusion in Philanthropy
Workplaces across the globe are in flux—and many are changing for the better. With more remote offerings, flexibility, and accommodations, we face a generational opportunity to codify accessibility and inclusion in institutions that have been exclusive for far too long.
Despite these changes, our…