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.
Programming
Thursday, September 19
Opening Plenary - 9:15-10:30 am
Meeting Obligations in a Time of Financial Volatility and Uncertainty
None of us can see into the future. But for foundation leaders, having that unique ability would be helpful in mitigating global financial issues and trends that force…
Washington Snapshot: House Ways & Means Subcommittee Hearing on SALT, Repeal of UBIT Fringe Benefits Provision Passes Committee
In This Week's Edition of Snapshot...
House Ways & Means Subcommittee Hearing on SALT
Repeal of UBIT Fringe Benefits Provision Passes Committee
Change in the Private Foundation Excise Tax Passes Committee
Supreme Court Rules on Census Citizenship Question
Wayfair and Tax-Exempt…
2019 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) Philanthropic Side-Events
The High-Level Politcal Forum (HLPF) will meet from July 9-18, with a theme of "empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality."
The set of goals that will be reviewed includes Goal 4, Goal 8, Goal 10, Goal 13, Goal 16, and Goal 17.
If you are hosting side-events featuring philanthropy…
Improve Peripheral Scanning & Get Deeper Insights
How can foundations better anticipate ways in which the world is changing around them? This is a challenge for every organization functioning in what the military has termed a “VUCA world.” The acronym refers to an operating environment characterized by Volatility, Uncertainty, Change and Ambiguity…
Washington Snapshot: Fiscal 2020 Minibus; Federal Cash Crisis for Humanitarian Assistance at the Border
In This Week's Edition of Snapshot...
Fiscal 2020 Minibus
Federal Cash Crisis for Humanitarian Assistance at the border
House Ways and Means Subcommittee Hearing on Ending the TCJA Tax
Treasury Department Issue Final SALT Rules
FEMA: Building Resilience
Capital Cities Looking to Nonprofits…
Philanthropic Resources Needed to Ensure an Accurate 2020 Census Count
Members, View Recording
On July 10, 2:00 p.m. ET, the Council hosted a funders-only webinar with the Democracy Funders 2020 Census Subgroup. During this event, we've learned more about the national philanthropy strategy to ensure an accurate count on the 2020 census and understandwhat…
FARA, FATF, and De-Risking (Oh My)!
Members, View Recording
The alphabet soup of global regulatory acronyms – FARA, FATF, and De-Risking to name a few – can lead to confusion for grantmakers. Join us for an update and discussion for how these regulations affect global grantmakers today. Hear directly from global experts and ask your…
Help us Reimagine the Council's Vision & Value to the Field
As you know, the Council’s conference, Leading Together 2019, convened April 29-May 1 in Miami. During my opening remarks, I shared early thoughts on how we can all work together in service of the common good.
Many of us were called to philanthropy because of…
Reimagine the Council - August 14 Teleconference
What is the highest and best role for philanthropy? And how can the Council on Foundations support its members and the field to be a strong and trusted partner in advancing the common good? Kathleen Enright, president and CEO of the Council on Foundations, will hold a listening session to explore…
Reimagine the Council - July 25 Teleconference
What is the highest and best role for philanthropy? And how can the Council on Foundations support its members and the field to be a strong and trusted partner in advancing the common good? Kathleen Enright, president and CEO of the Council on Foundations, will hold a listening session to explore…
Reimagine the Council - July 2 Teleconference
What is the highest and best role for philanthropy? And how can the Council on Foundations support its members and the field to be a strong and trusted partner in advancing the common good? Kathleen Enright, president and CEO of the Council on Foundations, will hold a listening session to explore…
Reimagining the Council on Foundations: Visioning Session with Kathleen Enright - San Francisco
What is the highest and best role for philanthropy? And how can the Council on Foundations support its members and the field to be a strong and trusted partner in advancing the common good? Kathleen Enright, president and CEO of the Council on Foundations, will hold an interactive visioning session…
Reimagining the Council on Foundations: Visioning Session with Kathleen Enright - Raleigh
What is the highest and best role for philanthropy? And how can the Council on Foundations support its members and the field to be a strong and trusted partner in advancing the common good? Kathleen Enright, president and CEO of the Council on Foundations, will hold an interactive visioning session…
Reimagining the Council on Foundations: Visioning Session with Kathleen Enright - Los Angeles
What is the highest and best role for philanthropy? And how can the Council on Foundations support its members and the field to be a strong and trusted partner in advancing the common good? Kathleen Enright, president and CEO of the Council on Foundations, will hold an interactive visioning session…
Reimagining the Council on Foundations: Visioning Session with Kathleen Enright - Detroit
What is the highest and best role for philanthropy? And how can the Council on Foundations support its members and the field to be a strong and trusted partner in advancing the common good? Kathleen Enright, president and CEO of the Council on Foundations, will hold an interactive visioning session…
Career Pathways: Opportunities Grow Through Philanthropy
Why Career Pathways
May marked my second session of the year-long Council on Foundations Career Pathways program. I applied to the program because several of my philanthropy mentors who are program alumni found it valuable, and enthusiastically encouraged me to pursue the opportunity. More than a…