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.
Washington Snapshot - September 28, 2017
In This Week's Edition of Snapshot
Tax Reform Update: Republican leaders unveil tax reform framework
Obamacare repeal bill pulled once again
HUD releases new strategic plan
In the States: State budgets remain in gridlock, Nonprofit responses differ on city demands for payments in lieu of taxes…
Hurricanes Irma and Maria
Disaster Overview
Hurricane Irma made landfall in Florida on September 10 as a Category 3 storm after leaving a trail of destruction through the Caribbean, including significant devastation throughout the Leeward, U.S. and British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Haiti. Deaths have been…
New Models and Approaches for a New Era of Development
Zero, in the context of a healthy world, is the most ambitious number of all. If the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were about making progress to achieve a healthy planet and people, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are about getting to zero, or as close to it as possible. The Global…
Mexico Earthquakes
Disaster Overview
Mexico experienced two major earthquakes in September 2017. The first, hitting the southern coast of Mexico on September 8th, was one of the biggest ever recorded in the area at a magnitude of 8.1. Only eleven days after this first major disastor, on September 19th, Mexico was hit…
Washington Snapshot - September 21, 2017
In This Week's Edition of Snapshot
Tax Reform Update: Budget agreement is first concrete step toward achieving tax reform
In the States: Financial shortfalls hamper states' budget negotiations
News from the Hill
So, What's Up with Tax Reform?
In the coming months, we will provide weekly…
Global Impact, Blackbaud, Council on Foundations, & Foundation Center Partner to Promote Global Goals Mapping: A Resource for Social Good Organizations
In collaborative partnership, Global Impact, Blackbaud, Council on Foundations and Foundation Center developed a new resource to support organizations in aligning and tracking charitable giving to the United Nations (U.N.) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). More specifically, the creation of “…
Hurricane Irma: What Funders Should Know
On September 14, 2017, the Council on Foundations co-hosted a webinar with the Center for Disaster Philanthropy and the Southeastern Council on Foundations to provide updates on U.S. damages and the situation throughout the Caribbean, and ways funders can address recovery needs. A panel of experts…
The Long Haul: Lessons From Charitable Responses to Previous Disasters
External Resource
The following content was writen by Michael Seltzer and originally appeared in Philanthropy News Digest, a service of Candid.
While media outlets — both online and print — have been quick to offer suggestions as to how individuals should channel their charitable impulses to help…
Washington Snapshot - September 14, 2017
In This Week's Edition of Snapshot
Tax Reform Update: Congress Ramps Up Tax Reform Efforts
Treasury Names New Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Tax Affairs
In the States: Nonprofits Balk at Making “Voluntary” PILOT Payments to Boston
So, What's Up with Tax Reform?
In the coming…
2017 Endowments and Finance Summit - Plenary Sessions
Plenary Sessions
Opening Plenary — The Year Ahead: Navigating Growth in Unsettled Times
Thursday, October 12 - 9-10:30 a.m.
Despite stock markets repeatedly reaching new heights this year and investment income above previous year returns,…
Hurricane Harvey
Disaster Overview
Hurricane Harvey is the largest hurricane to hit the United States in a decade. Hurricane Harvey made landfall near Rockport, Texas, as a Category 4 storm on August 25, 2017. The storm has led to significant, catastropic damage in Texas and along the Gulf Coast. There is…
Washington Snapshot - September 7, 2017
In This Week's Edition of Snapshot
Tax Reform Update: Tax reform faces competing legislative priorities
Move to weaken the Johnson Amendment advances in the House, NASCO speaks out
Kautter confirmed for key Treasury position
IRS takes steps to encourage charitable giving in the wake of…
National Preparedness Month: Updates Regarding Flooding and Disasters
Government, charities, and businesses are stepping up to respond to Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Jose. In the last week, a flood of new or updated resources were released just in time for National Preparedness Month. Here are some that the Council on Foundations is using to work with our members.…
Council Member Update
Members, View the Recording
For philanthropy, the year 2017 has brought a number of issues to the forefront: tax reform has moved to center stage on Capitol Hill; proposals for massive government budget cuts have turned eyes towards philanthropy to fill the gap; and recent incidents like…
A Word on Partnerships: Council’s Legal Team Working Side by Side With Regional Partners
When people think of the myriad of partnerships in which the Council engages, the legal team may not come first to mind. But the fact of the matter is, the legal team regularly engages with other organizations, particularly our regional partners, on behalf of the sector.
Recently, I, along with my…
Global Philanthropy Update - August 2017
I hope you have been enjoying a relatively mild summer, using the time to explore the outdoors and hopefully take a much needed vacation.
As the end of summer draws near, we are fully in planning-mode. This September marks two years since we began supporting the Sustainable Development Goals at the…