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.
HUD Secretary's Award for Public Philanthropic Partnerships
The Secretary's Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships recognizes cross-sector partnerships between the philanthropic and public sectors that effectively increase the quality of life for low- and moderate-income residents across all American geographies—urban, suburban, and rural.…
Town Hall: Unveiling the Council's New Strategic Direction
How can philanthropy meet the needs of our communities and our world with fierce urgency? What does philanthropy need from the Council to be able to shape a future that is better for everyone? The board and staff of the Council on Foundations, with generous member guidance, have created a new…
Raising the Bar: How can Philanthropy Help Build a Better Future for Everyone?
Sponsored by Walton Family Foundation
How do we rebuild in the wake of a series of global crises? And what is philanthropy’s role in the work ahead? Hear compelling visions from three innovative thinkers with different perspectives on and experiences with philanthropy as they motivate and…
Designing Women: Why Women of Color Hold the Key to True Equity
Join us for a conversation with a group of highly experienced women of color from different sectors within philanthropy and investment who coalesced to create a Design Council, ultimately helping to build the investment strategy of a major foundation. We’ll share both their vision for the…
Community Foundations as Civic Homes
In 2020, a cohort of five California community foundations partnered with Justice Funders to imagine new possibilities for the future of community philanthropy. We explored concepts of civic identities and political journeys, questioned our notions of what makes a home and co-created a vision of…
The Family Giving Lifecycle: Orienting Toward Effective Outcomes
While every philanthropic family is unique, there are common points of inflection. The NCFP Family Giving Lifecycle names those inflection points and provides questions for donors to ask at each stage, recognizing that philanthropy is iterative and ever-evolving. This session will share the…
Centering Black Community Voices in Pandemic Response – Regional and National Approaches
Join a conversation about how two community foundations stepped up to respond to the Pandemic. Early in the Pandemic, the Community Foundation of Greater Flint convened the Greater Flint Coronavirus Taskforce on Racial Inequities building on the lessons of the Flint water crisis. The East Bay…
Crisis, Connection, & Collaboration: Learning and Growing Impact in a Challenging Year
2020 forced everyone to think differently. For many communities in East Texas and Louisiana, the crisis of the pandemic was an additional blow to families already struggling due to devastating storms and chronic systemic disparities. However, new opportunities have emerged spurred by the…
Introducing Ethos: A Way to Address Dilemmas with Empathy and Integrity
To make progress on the urgent challenges faced today, we need to stop funding just the “usual suspects” and bravely invest in movements and traditionally under-funded changemakers. Choosing equity isn’t without risks. Philanthropists and those who support them face many ethical…
Strategies for Shifting Power
Do your foundation’s policies and procedures reflect a changing philanthropy that raises the bar on diversity, inclusion, and equity? Learn about one global foundation’s journey to ensure that grassroots partners have a place at the table and that their voices are heard. During this…
Bridging Across Toxic Political Division
The violent breach of the U.S. Capitol represents only the beginning of the destructive effects toxic polarization will bring to America if left unchecked. Researchers see America’s polarization crisis as closer to political sectarianism -- and they point to how so many of us perceive those…
Committing to Equity and Inclusivity: Moving from Words to Action
Sponsored by Knight Foundation
How can philanthropy advance equity and inclusivity in every aspect of our work? The compounding crises of the last year prompted many foundations to commit to embedding equity across their organizations and in their funding, but many remain unsure where to start.…
Transformational Leadership
During this inspiring Fireside Chat, New York Times bestseller and former CEO of the Robin Hood Foundation, Wes Moore, will share his inspiring life story and perspective on how philanthropy can help address poverty.
Wes led the Robin Hood Foundation to one of its strongest years in the anti-…
Disrupting the Narrative: The Power of the Story
How do you change the narrative of a continent that has been entrenched in people’s minds for hundreds of years? The story of Africa is one that is often told by outsiders through frames that no longer serve this dynamic and evolving continent. Storytelling is a powerful way to shift…
The Power of Relationships to Build Equity and Change Systems
In response to severe racial disparities in COVID-19 impacts, Maine’s philanthropic sector has used its social capital to help facilitate access to emergency resources from the public sector for grassroots, immigrant-led organizations. Three Maine funders will explore philanthropy’s…