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.
Opportunity Zones - A Value to Your Community?
Fundamentals
What are Opportunity Zones?
Created by changes to the tax code in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in December 2017, Opporunity Zones are state-nominated, economically depressed communities that are in need of new investment. These investments could, under certain circumstances, be eligable for…
International Women's Day: Perspectives in Philanthropy
International Women’s Day is a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. This day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. The philanthropic sector is especially poised to take on this action.
The 2018 theme for International…
Grantmaking Innovation: Using a Competition Model to Fund Bold Ideas
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Prizes, challenges, and competitions can bring new awareness to critical issues, help grantmakers reach beyond their existing networks, and connect participants with new resources. But they are not easy to do well.
Join the Council for a discussion between two…
Private Philanthropy Update - March 2018
Earlier this month, President Trump released his budget proposal for the 2019 fiscal year, which proposes cuts to federal agencies and grant programs like the statement in support of NEA and the importance of public-private partnerships.
In 2011, NEA brought together several foundations…
Washington Snapshot: Ways and Means Holds Budget Markup, Senior IRS Official Resigns
In This Week's Edition of Snapshot…
Ways and Means Committee Adopts FY 2019 Budget Views and Estimates Letter
Senior Treasury Official Leaves Agency Amid Tax Reform Implementation
In the States: SALT Workaround Bills Advance
News from the Hill
Ways and Means Committee Adopts FY 2019 Budget…
State Level SALT Work-Arounds: What Do They Mean for Philanthropy?
Members, View the Recording
With the passage of tax reform and the repeal of the state and local tax (SALT) deduction, a handful of high-tax states—such as New Jersey, California, and New York—have been considering proposals to alleviate the new burden their residents will now face. Many…
Webinar: The Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) and Dangers to US Nonprofits
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The Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) is front page news in the wake of Russian involvement in the 2016 U.S. Presidential election. Since its enactment in 1938, FARA has been rarely enforced, but Congress has recently considering several bills to increase its implementation…
Washington Snapshot: JCT Estimates Number of Itemizers Will Decrease Under New Tax Law
In This Week's Edition of Snapshot…
JCT Estimates Number of Itemizers Under New Tax Law
IRS Issues Guidelines on New Opportunity Zones
FEMA Seeks Youths
Commerce Releases New Strategic Plan
In the States: SALT Workaround Bills Advance
News from the Hill
JCT Estimates Number of Itemizers…
Federal Budget
The Council provides an analysis of the annual president's budget request and congressional appropriations measures focusing on proposals that may affect foundations and the broad nonprofit sector.
Historically, budget requests put forward by the Administration serve as a messaging…
Washington Snapshot: Congress Ends Brief Shutdown, New IRS Commissioner Officially Nominated
In This Week's Edition of Snapshot:
Brief Government Shutdown Ended with Passage of Budget Deal
Trump Administration Releases 2018-19 Budget
Repeal of Johnson Amendment Raised at National Prayer Breakfast
President Trump Officially Nominates New IRS Head
FEMA Requests Comments on Natural…
990 PF Storytelling
Members, View the Recording
Have you read your institution's 990-PF lately? Have you ever stopped to think what headlines it might inspire? The IRS recently started releasing e-filed Forms 990 and 990-PF as machine-readable, open data. Because the data is now not only open, but digital and machine-…
More Than 80 Philanthropic Leaders Commit to Working Across Borders to Achieve the SDGS in North America
Coming out of a historic meeting that brought together philanthropic leaders from Canada, Mexico and the United States, more than 80 philanthropic leaders have joined in solidarity and pledged to work to reduce poverty and increase opportunity for all across North America. This commitment marks the…
North American Philanthropy: United to Leave No One Behind
More than 200 leaders from across North America gathered in Mexico City for the inaugural North American Community Foundations Summit on February 5-6, 2018.
Out of this historic gathering, the Council on Foundations and event co-hosts Community Foundations of Canada and Comunalia from Mexico…
Veterans Philanthropy Exchange Policy Meeting at the Public Policy Summit
The Council on Foundations’ inaugural Public Policy Summit included specific programing to determine a policy agenda for the Veterans Philanthropy Exchange in Philadelphia, on April 12, 2018.
This meeting of Veterans funders took a deep dive to explore public policy issues foundations…
2018 HR Summit - Registration
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If you don't want to register online, you can complete the paper registration form and send it to registration@cof.org.
Registration Rates
Member Rate before April 30, 2018 = $499
Member Rate after April 30, 2018 = $549…
Nonprofit and Philanthropic Leaders Call on Congress to Leave the Johnson Amendment Alone
Nonprofit and philanthropic leaders renewed their call for preserving the Johnson Amendment, the longstanding law that protects their organizations from the divisiveness of partisan politics. The call comes as House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) used the National Prayer Breakfast to express…