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.
Leading Together 2021 - Schedule
Schedule
Leading Together 2021 featured dynamic opportunities to learn, connect, and reflect. Our programming catalyzed courageous, perspective-shifting conversations about how we can improve as a sector and tackle the biggest challenges of our time together.
This schedule is…
Leading Together 2021 - Register
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Equitable COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution: Build It but Will They Come?
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Experts say that as much as 90 percent of the population must achieve immunity to eliminate COVID-19. Yet there is a concerning level of lack of confidence in the vaccines, particularly in communities of color. People…
State of Play: Local, National, and Intersectional Responses to Addressing Anti-Asian Violence and Building Durable AAPI Immigrant Power
While the significant and tragic rise of anti-Asian violence in recent weeks has caught the attention of the general public, coordinated and strategic efforts led by AAPI organizations, networks, and coalitions to respond to anti-Asian violence have been in place since before the pandemic began…
Policy Update: Connecting the Dots Between the Biden Administration's Policy Proposals and Philanthropy
Hear an overview of the recently passed $1.9 trillion relief legislation known as the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the key pillars of the new infrastructure proposals, the American Jobs Plan, announced by President Biden on March 31. The jobs plan targets 40 percent of the benefits of…
Global Philanthropy Update - March 2021
Dear Friend,
It is difficult to capture the enormity of the challenges we have faced during the past year.
Global grantmakers were some of the first to recognize the looming danger of the novel coronavirus and urged the world to respond. As vaccines begin to ramp up in the US, funders…
Bringing a Racial Equity Lens to Foundation Strategy
Shifting Practices, Sharing Power:
Moving From Vision to Reality
Bringing a Racial Equity Lens to Foundation Strategy session co-led by Dalberg Advisors and Common Future, shares reflections and best practices from the field based on their work with different…
Exploring New Spaces: A Quick Guide to Evaluating Potential New Programmatic Areas
Shifting Practices, Sharing Power:
Moving From Vision to Reality
Many foundations are exploring potential new programs in response to the pandemic, racial reckoning, and threats to our democracy, among many other challenges. This workshop will introduce a structured, efficient process that…
Future-Proofing Your Portfolio: A Quick Guide to Scenario Planning for Foundations
Shifting Practices, Sharing Power:
Moving From Vision to Reality
As our world becomes more uncertain, planning for the future becomes more important, but also more difficult. This interactive workshop will introduce fundamental tools used in scenario analysis and risk management and show how…
Ask the Council: The Initiative to Accelerate Charitable Giving
Thank you for joining David Kass, the Council's Vice President of Government Affairs, for a members-only discussion on the Initiative to Accelerate Charitable Giving draft policy proposal. The discussion focused on what was included within the proposal and what we are hearing from the Hill. …
Granting to India: How to Best Support Indian Non-Profits - POSTPONED
This event has been postponed.
We will update this page with the new date and time soon.
With the recent FCRA amendments passed late in 2020, global foundations working in or granting to India continue to face challenges to their work. While Indian…
Humanitarian Crises Around the World
Natural disasters have a way of grabbing media attention and the public’s interest. The visuals of people wading through chest-deep water or picking up the pieces of tornado-ravaged homes are eye-catching. They draw attention and money from philanthropy and everyday donors. However, there are…
Nonprofit Law in Tanzania
Legal Compliance Guidance
Current as of May 2023 | Download print version (PDF)
This section describes the legal framework governing nonprofit organizations (also known as non-governmental organizations or NGOs) in Tanzania, and includes translations of legislative provisions relevant for a foundation or advisor…
One Year Later: How Has COVID-19 Reshaped Philanthropy?
Philanthropy has responded to COVID-19 like no other crisis in recent memory. Through increased giving, reduced restrictions, and a deeper focus on listening to communities and partners, foundations, many of whom signed the Pledge, have stepped up in this moment of crisis. Now, a year…
Field Research: Philanthropy's Response to COVID-19
Lessons and data from the field on philanthropy's response to the pandemic, plus examinations of foundation practices that may become the new normal.
Foundation Practices
Philanthropy and COVID-19: Measuring One Year of Giving - Center for Disaster Philanthropy & Candid (February 2021)…
Letters to Government Officials
At the Council, we leverage our voice on behalf of the philanthropic sector and on issues affecting our members. We reach out to Congress, the White House, and federal agencies when necessary to ensure governmental leadership understands the priorities of philanthropy—and, when appropriate, we…