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.
2020 Member Week - Ask Me Anything FAQs
What is the Philanthropy Exchange?
The Philanthropy Exchange is a peer-to-peer platform that connects Council members around shared interests, topics, or resources. The Exchange is a member-only benefit open to Council members and invited guests. To help you get started on the Exchange, here is a…
A Post Election Message from Kathleen Enright
The Council on Foundations joins all Americans in expecting a careful accounting of all votes and an expeditious and certain outcome in the 2020 Presidential election. Whatever the result, we are heartened by the historic turnout because a healthy democracy depends on robust participation…
New Nicaraguan Legislation Impacts Foreign Foundation Grantmaking
This page will be updated as new information is made available about these laws. Please bookmark it for future reference.
Last updated November 2, 2020.
On Thursday October 15, 2020, The Law for the Regulation of Foreign Agents, or Ley de Regulación de Agentes Extranjeros, was enacted…
Ask Me Anything with Kathleen Enright and Council Leaders
Do you have a question about the strategic direction of the Council? Curious how the team is managing in uncertain times? Or just want to get to know the team better? This is the time to ask us anything.
This event will take place on the Philanthropy Exchange, the Council’s peer-to-peer…
2020 Member Week - Member Hour
End the long work week with an hour of wellness and networking. The wellness activity will be a resiliency themed meditation led by our partners at Chill Anywhere. Following the meditation, we’ll play a fun trivia game to test your knowledge of recent events and host and a facilitated…
2020 Public Policy Summit - Sponsors
Sponsors
The Council would like to thank all of the sponsors for their support of the 2020 Public Policy Summit.
If you would like to learn more about sponosrship opportunities, contact Tara Cox at tara.cox@cof.org.
Gold Sponsors
The Heinz Endowments
The Heinz…
The Unrestricted Funding Dilemma: Advantages and Challenges to General Support Grants
Earlier this year, the Council on Foundations issued a COVID-19 Call to Action to its community of domestic and international funders, asking foundations to provide unrestricted funding to grantee organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic. This call to action prompted a timely discussion with…
2020 Annual Member Meeting
Keynote Speech with Fred Blackwell - Recording
Annual Member Meeting - Recording
The Annual Member Meeting is the kickoff event for Member Week. This year the Council will host a series of virtual events that will offer members the opportunity to…
Global Philanthropy Update - October 2020
With more than one million people lost to COVID-19, the world is in mourning and rightfully so. It is not only the people we have lost, but the progress that the world had been making in becoming a more equitable, healthy, peaceful, and prosperous place. Additionally, while COVID-19 has occupied…
Building Trust, Breaking Tradition: How Foundations Can More Effectively Respond in Times of Crisis
When the Council on Foundations published A Call to Action: Philanthropy’s Commitment during COVID-19 in March, the COVID-19 pandemic was in its early stages. Now, its impact has surpassed many of our worst fears, and an economic recession and long-standing racial injustices add to this moment of…
2020 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Report: Key Findings
Publication, Research
For 40 years the Council has provided the most comprehensive analysis of salary and benefits for full-time staff at U.S. foundations through the Grantmaker Salary and Benefits (GSB) Report. This year, in addition to providing an analysis of salary and benefits data from 8,794 full-time paid…
Blog Series: How the Philanthropy Pledge is Being Used by Global Funders
.views-field.views-field-field-summary {
margin-top: 10px;
}
COVID-19 has had a substantial impact on philanthropy and the way it does business. In the wake of this global pandemic, foundations took immediate action to do more – pledging to support nonprofit partners, people and communities…
Call Summary: Funder Roundtable on Indian FCRA Amendments 2020
Summary of Funder Roundtable on Indian FCRA Amendments, held on September 30, 2020.
Washington Snapshot: President Trump and the First Lady Test Positive For COVID-19
The More You Know
Complete your 2020 Census
Register to Vote
Request an Absentee Ballot
Early Voting Dates by State
In This Week's Edition of Snapshot...
News from the Council
News from the Hill
Executive and Regulatory Affairs
Happening in the States…
2020 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.…