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.
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Safer Communities in Chicago, Illinois
Dometi Pongo (@dometi_) shares how The Chicago Fund for Safe and Peaceful Communities (@safepeacefulchi) brought more than 50 funders and foundations together with businesses, government, faith leaders, and community organizations together to invest more than $200 million in crime reduction…
Preserving Food and Cultural History in South Carolina
KJ Kearney (@blackfoodfridays) shares how investment from funders like the Mellon Foundation (@mellonfoundation) are helping to keep the history of African American And African Atlantic foodways front and center at the Muloma Heritage Center (@muloma.heritage) on St. Helena Island in South Carolina…
Washington Snapshot: Census 2030 Proposed Regulations
Last week, the Census Bureau and the Department of Commerce released proposed regulations regarding the decennial census in 2030 and beyond. Plus, upcoming legal and global trainings at the Council, the Treasury Secretary's annual testimony, and more.
Comfort, Connection, and Joy in Kansas
In Topeka, KS, one small grant is making a big difference for local students. A Topeka Community Foundation grant helped bring a new therapy dog to the Tallgrass Student Learning Center.Velma joined her human classmates during the 2025-26 school year, and she continues to provide comfort,…
Homeownership and a Stable Future in Florida
Jennifer Hykes (@bria.loves on Instagram) shares her personal experience as a single working mom striving to create a stable future for her daughter through homeownership. After struggling to find support through traditional programs, she discovered the Homes for Mom program, which provided…
Local News and Student Journalism in Vermont
Kevin Pearce (@kevinpearce) shares how University of Vermont's Center for Community News is helping student journalists tell important stories and keep their community informed.
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Pulling Back the Curtain on Narrative Change
In 2024, the Council on Foundations in partnership with the Center for Public Interest Communications (CPIC) at the University of Florida released Philanthropy’s New Voice, the largest study ever of narratives in philanthropy. The report used a multimethod research effort to surface the American…
Recording
Our facilitators draw on real experience — including the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country’s response to the July 2025 Kerr County floods, along with lessons from Uvalde, Texas, the Maine and California wildfires, and the Baltimore Key bridge collapse.Facilitators walk through a…
Creating New Community Space After Fires in California
Sarah Wagner (@heysarawagner on Instagram) shares how her community built Beeline Blooms, a dahlia farm and gathering place to bring back a little color, beauty, and joy.
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Lending a Helping Hand after Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton in Florida
Raven Kramer shares how the generosity of her community in the wake of multiple hurricanes changed her life and her outlook on the world.
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Paying Generosity Forward in Texas
Ana Cruz Hollingsworth shares how every day generosity changed her life, and how she kept a promise to herself to one day return that generosity.
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Building Community through the Arts in Alabama
Charlie Desi shares how the SHOUT Film Festival, with support from community members and organizations like the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, are creating space for LGBTQ+ stories to be seen, celebrated, and shared in Birmingham, Alabama.
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On September 3, 2026, the Department of Treasury (Treasury) and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would end federal tax-exempt status for private schools that engage in racial discrimination. You can read our detailed summary of the proposed regulation for…
Key Findings | The State of Global Giving by U.S. Foundations: 2026 Edition
For almost 30 years, the Council on Foundations and Candid have partnered on studies of globally focused giving by U.S. foundations. Our newest edition of The State of Global Giving by U.S. Foundations analyzes how U.S. foundations are engaging globally, through support of efforts that improve…
Publication, Toolkit
For almost 30 years, the Council on Foundations and Candid have partnered on studies of globally focused giving by U.S. foundations. Our newest edition of The State of Global Giving by U.S. Foundations analyzes how U.S. foundations are engaging globally, through support of efforts that improve…
Washington Snapshot: Treasury and the IRS Release Draft Regulations on the Public Policy Doctrine
On September 3, the Department of the Treasury and the IRS released proposed regulations addressing racial nondiscrimination requirements for private schools. Plus, Members of Congress speaking out about tax-exempt organizations, the approved continuing resolution, and more.