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.
Important Tax Reform Update
We wanted to share this important breaking news on the status of tax reform legislation. As you know, in Washington, D.C., things can change quickly. Just last week, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady said that the tax reform framework document should be done in early September.…
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Award Nominations
The Council is currently accepting nominations for the 2017 Robert W. Scrivner Award for Creative Grantmaking. Nominate a courageous leader and innovative grantmaker today.
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The Robert W. Scrivner Award for Creative Grantmaking honors grantmakers who, with a…
Global Philanthropy Update - July 2017
For the last three years, I’ve noticed a growing trend in community foundations asking for support to make international grants, often from donor or corporate advised funds. We’ve never had data on how many community foundations are making global grants, which is why I’m delighted to share that…
Private Philanthropy Update - July 2017
In May, I invited the Council on Foundations' private foundation members to participate in a survey to help me gather information that will shape future Council programming tailored to private foundations. The results of the survey identified several areas of interest and need.
Participants…
Washington Snapshot - July 20, 2017
In This Week's Edition of Snapshot…
Council submits tax reform comments to Senate Finance Committee
Tax Reform Update: House committee approves budget, takes first legislative step towards tax reform
Senate Finance Committee to consider Mr. Kautter’s nomination today
In the States: Michigan…
Public Welfare Foundation’s CEO, Mary McClymont Shares Insights with Council Interns
It’s not every day you get to meet with the CEO of an influential nonprofit, but for the Council’s interns, we had the extraordinary pleasure to sit down with Mary McClymont, the President and CEO of the Public Welfare Foundation.
I know I can speak on the behalf of my fellow interns when I say it…
Navigating the 2018 Federal Budget Landscape
Memebers Access the Recording & Slides
Many of the Executive actions and fiscal visions of the Trump Administration have surfaced complicated and layered public policy issues, putting a variety of "hot issues" in the forefront of the public discourse and Congressional deliberations.…
2017 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Survey
For more than 30 years, the Council's Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Survey has provided the sector with the most comprehensive data on grantmaker staff composition and compensation in the U.S. at community, private (family and independent), and public foundations, as well as other staffed…
National Foundation Study Shows Improved 2016 Investment Returns; Spending Rate Steady to Higher
Data gathered in the 2016 Council on Foundations–Commonfund Study of Investment of Endowments for Private and Community Foundations® (CCSF) show that participating private foundations reported an average return of 6.4 percent for the 2016 fiscal year (January 1 – December 31, 2016) while…
Washington Snapshot - July 13, 2017
In This Week's Edition of Snapshot…
Tax Reform Update: Health care debate slows other legislative action, but Congress is still ramping up for tax reform
House Appropriations Committee to consider Johnson Amendment provision in a bill markup today
Senate Finance to hold confirmation hearing for…
2017 CEO & Trustee Retreat
The Council on Foundations hosted its second annual CEO & Trustee Retreat, in partnership with BoardSource. This dynamic learning event took place December 5-6, 2017 in Miami, Florida. The CEO & Trustee Retreat was designed to help energize foundation executives through leadership…
Global Philanthropy Update — June 2017
The Council’s Global Team is excited to welcome a new addition! Nicolette Gerald is a graduate of George Mason University with a bachelor’s degree in government and international politics. She will be spending the next two months with us as a summer intern before beginning her graduate studies in…
We Are Immigrants
June is Immigrant Heritage Month, a time during which we celebrate our origins as a nation of immigrants. The Council’s staff, its board, it strategic partners, its member organizations and the communities they serve are all inclusive of immigrants. As a national organization and a leading voice…
The Human Side of Digital Security and Philanthropy
Editor’s Note: The Council’s legal team regularly receives questions regarding the data security of foundation operations and donor and grantee information. Lara Kalwinski, Senior Counsel, connected with Lucy Bernholz to find the right expert to break down these issues for us. Meet Josh Levy a…
Washington Snapshot - June 29, 2017
We will not be sending Snapshot next week due to the holiday. We wish all of our readers a safe and fun Fourth of July!
In This Week's Edition of Snapshot…
Hill Briefing on Charitable Giving and Tax Reform
Tax Reform Update: Brady Insists on Complete Overhaul Instead of Mere Tax Cuts
Senate…
New Report Sheds Light on Age Gap, Lack of Diversity in the Philanthropic Sector
The largest and most comprehensive report in the United States on grantmaker staff composition and compensation was released today by the Council on Foundations and highlighted a lingering age gap that exists within the philanthropic sector.
The 2016 Full Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Report…