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: Supreme Court Releases Decision on California Donor Disclosure Case
What You Need to Know About Public Policy This Week...
News From the Council
Supreme Court Releases Decision on California Donor Disclosure Case
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USDA Seeks…
Disaster Philanthropy and Native Americans: Practical Tips for Funding On and Off Reservations
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Native Americans are a richly diverse and growing population, but as an ethnicity, they are disproportionately affected by disasters. This reality is true for those who live on reservations and in urban areas. And yet, Native Americans are greatly underfunded by…
Philanthropy's Response to the National Evictions Crisis
Community foundations and place-based funders should be aware of the impending rental evictions crisis on the horizon. Money is available in every state to help renters who are behind on rent due to the pandemic’s impacts and are at risk of eviction when the federal pandemic eviction moratorium…
Council on Foundations Applauds Re-Introduction of the “Workforce Development through Post-Graduation Scholarships Act”
The Council on Foundations applauds the reintroduction of the Workforce Development Through Post-Graduation Scholarships Act (S.2191/ H.R4095) by Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Representatives Darin LaHood (R-IL) and Terri Sewell (D-AL). The bill would…
Unexpected Partners and Unlikely Allies: Seeking Common Ground at Leading Together 2021
When I formally entered the field of philanthropy, I was certain of my commitment to improving the overall quality of life for children and families. But to be frank, what I was not certain of was the full scope of the vast and unique role philanthropy could play in facilitating such change. As a…
Normal Wasn’t Working: Raising the Bar at Leading Together 2021
The idea of raising the bar in the philanthropic sector is a great one, but we need to acknowledge some potentially hard truths first: a) the bar is actually set pretty low, so the idea of raising it shouldn’t be the pinnacle of our aspirations; b) we haven’t reached the goals represented by the…
Storytelling as a Pathway to Equity: Leading Together 2021
Like many of us in the philanthropic sector, I have, over the past year, been to more than a few webinars and conferences on philanthropy’s role in advancing equity. It can often feel like we’re all following a standard script. We acknowledge that racism exists, and has in fact existed for a while…
Reinventing Our Battered World through Kindness and Curiosity at Leading Together 2021
I came away from the second day of the Council on Foundations’ Leading Together 2021 conference with an enormous amount of hope. Hope in humanity and in the kind and equitable future we will create together, if we challenge ourselves to do better and shift many of our sector practices.
The…
The LA Story: Bringing All Voices to the Table at Leading Together 2021
Over the past year, the COVID-19 crisis and violent racism against the Black and AAPI communities provided a moment of reckoning for philanthropic practitioners across the United States. We can capitalize on this moment if we work together, and if we understand that the greater good is more than a…
Knowing Yourself to Better Know Others: Advancing Equity at Leading Together 2021
During sessions on the first day of Leading Together 2021, three words resounded in the conversations: respect, trust, and equity. These three words have tremendous importance, both in our lives as individuals and as philanthropy professionals, and they have the power to reshape the ways that we…
FCAA Connect Webinar: How to Build Resilient and Strong Organizations
Lessons Learned from the Ford Foundation and the Treatment Action Campaign
The COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare the consequences of siloed philanthropy and the imperative to accelerate intersectional, multi-level work, with particular attention to integrating the HIV and COVID-19 responses with…
Reflective Break: Summarize It
Join your fellow conference attendees for a fun activity to exchange thoughts and lessons learned from Leading Together 2021. We will utilize a Jam Board to help attendees visualize concepts and takeaways to ensure you can continue to share the knowledge you gained with your colleagues and networks.
Pop Up Session: Accelerating Charitable Efforts Act (ACE Act)
On June 9, Senators King (I-ME) and Grassley (R-IA) introduced the Accelerating Charitable Efforts Act (ACE Act) — a bill that would have far reaching impacts on the philanthropic sector. In this conversation, we will share what’s in the ACE Act, talk about why the Council is opposed,…
Summary of Accelerating Charitable Efforts Act ("ACE Act")
The ACE Act, sponsored by Sen. Angus King (I-ME) and Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), would modify existing rules relating to donor advised funds (“DAFs”), make certain changes to the rules for the excise tax on undistributed income of private foundations, and exempt certain private foundations from the…
Council on Foundations Opposes the Accelerating Charitable Efforts Act (ACE Act)
On June 9, 2021, Senators King (I-ME) and Grassley (R-IA) introduced the Accelerating Charitable Efforts (ACE) Act. The Council on Foundations opposes this legislation.
The bill has several provisions that would negatively impact the philanthropic sector, including:
Establishing new and…
2021 HR Retreat
Reopening Strong
Re-Establishing Relationships, Re-Envisioning Equity, Re-Imagining the Workplace
September 8-10, 2021 | Virtual
Over the past year, employers and HR leaders have stepped up in new and different ways to support the many dimensions of employee wellness, from occupational to…