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.
Further Reading — Values-Aligned Philanthropy
External Resource
U.S. Academic Centers for the Study of Hate and Extremism
Bard College Center for the Study of Hate
California State University, San Bernardino, Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism
Gonzaga University Institute for Hate Studies
The International Network for Hate Studies
Career Pathways 2022 Program Information Session
The Career Pathways program is a highly selective pipeline expansion opportunity open to individuals from diverse backgrounds who are currently employed in philanthropic institutions. This leadership preparation course is designed for mid-career professionals and was developed in…
Global Philanthropy Update - September 2021
With the UN General Assembly (UNGA) just a few weeks away, there is no shortage of challenges that will hinder the world’s capacity to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) by 2030. From the IPCC’s recent devastating climate report and natural disasters in every corner of the…
The Future of Philanthropy is Local
As we continue to navigate a new normal amid a global pandemic, philanthropy has a moral obligation to create spaces for everyone’s voice to be heard, valued, and represented in building common ground to achieve more together. How do we advance the greater good in our community? How do we build…
Philanthropy's Response to 2021 Hurricane Ida
OVERVIEW
Hurricane Ida struck the southern coast of Louisiana on the afternoon of August 29, 2021, as an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane and its remnants have since caused major flooding throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.
As updates about the impact of this disaster are known as…
Public Policy and Advocacy for Grantmakers
Publication
Government policy decisions impact communities and can drive or impede solutions to some of the most pressing issues facing the nation. Engagement in public policy advocacy is therefore crucial to the philanthropic sector's ability to achieve its greatest impact.
Public Policy and Advocacy for…
Values-Aligned Philanthropy: Foundations Resisting Hate and Extremism
With extremism on the rise, philanthropy’s responsibility to avoid funding hate has been in the spotlight. While individual foundations have worked to address the issue, there has not been significant analysis of the sector’s activities when it comes to finding solutions to hate funding—until…
2021 UN General Assembly Virtual Philanthropic Side-Events
This page is an archived schedule of philanthropic side-events from the 2021 United Nations General Assembly. See the most recent UNGA schedule instead.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many of the UNGA side-events will be remote or hybrid again. This page highlights events that may be of interest to…
Better Ways of Working: Notes from the Journey at Walmart.org
The challenges of the past year have exacerbated inequities around the world and caused many of us in philanthropy to reflect on how we can change our own ways of working to be more effective partners in transforming societal systems for equity.
At Walmart and the Walmart Foundation, where…
2020 Council on Foundations - Commonfund Study of Investment of Endowments for Private and Community Foundations (CCSF) Report
Publication, Research
The CCSF report is the field’s most comprehensive and authoritative study on investment and governance policies and practices. The 2020 CCSF studies 260 private and community foundations that represent $115.4 billion in assets. Topics covered include:
Returns and Investment Objectives…
Philanthropy's Response to Afghanistan Refugee Crisis
OVERVIEW
With the departure of U.S. armed forces and the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban, a refugee crisis is unfolding throughout the region. According to the UNHCR, since the start of this year 550,000 Afghans have been forced to flee their homes because of conflict and the numbers…
COVID-19’s Long Tail: Developing a Mental Health Strategy for Recovery
COVID-19 is leaving a long tail of psycho-social impacts from the variety of losses that people have experienced during the pandemic such as death, illness, housing and job insecurity, and absence of in-person treatment. Policymakers and funders need a sustained and intentional strategy to address…
Highlights of the 2020 Council on Foundations–Commonfund Study of Foundations
Join Commonfund Institute and the Council on Foundations for a discussion of the results from the newly released 2020 Council on Foundations–Commonfund Study of Investment of Endowments for Private and Community Foundations® (CCSF). This webinar will mark the culmination of the ninth year…
Disaster in a Crisis Zone: Understanding the Impact of Haiti's Earthquake
Download Slides
An M7.2 earthquake struck southwest Haiti on Aug. 14, leaving hundreds dead and causing widespread devastation, and Tropical Storm Grace is expected to pass over Haiti on Monday, Aug. 16, bringing heavy rains and strong winds.
The Center for Disaster…