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 - January 12, 2017
In this Week's Edition of Snapshot...
Ways & Means to hold hearing on changes to committee rules
Senate sets deadline to repeal ACA, move closer to tax reform
Treasury requests input on guidance for tax-exempt leases
How Philanthropic is the Trump Cabinet?
In the States: State…
Washington Snapshot - January 6, 2017
In this Week's Edition of Snapshot...
Tuesday kicked off the 115th Congress
The proverbial ball is officially rolling toward tax reform
House and Senate tax-writing committees welcome new members
In the States: NY and DC take action on minimum wage and paid family leave
Opinion: nonprofits…
Twenty-Four Promising Leaders in Philanthropy Selected for Career Pathways Program
The Council on Foundations announced today that 24 promising philanthropic leaders have been selected to participate in the fourth Career Pathways Program. This intensive, year-long leadership development program is designed to foster diverse talent and excellence among the philanthropic sector's…
2017 Annual Conference - Plenary Sessions
Plenary Sessions
Opening Plenary: Philanthropy's Role in Vibrant Communities
Monday, April 24 - 8:30-10:15 a.m.
Breakfast starts at 7:45 a.m. — Doors Close Promptly at 8:30 a.m.
IMPORTANT: During President George W. Bush’s speech all mobile devices must be silenced and put away.…
2017 Annual Conference - Sessions
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Public-Private Partnership Opportunities with the Administration for Children and Families
The Council’s Public-Philanthropic Partnership Office hosted a webinar for funders only with the Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration on Children and Families to help foundations understand the regular programs and goals of the agency.
The webinar was moderated…
Council on Foundations Holiday Schedule
The Council on Foundations offices will be closed from December 24, 2016 - January 2, 2017. During this time, Council staff is available to assist our members with their time-sensitive needs. Please dial the membership line directly at 703-879-0645 or email Membership at membership@cof.org.
A Leadership Conversation: Philanthropy’s Post-Election Assessment
This past Friday a diverse group of philanthropic leaders gathered in New York City to discuss the unexpected election results, what those results mean for our nation and what they mean for our work, both individually and as a sector. The meeting, convened by the Council on Foundations and hosted…
Five Trends in Philanthropy
2017 will be a year of change, as orthodoxies in the field get tested and philanthropy steps up and into a more prominent national role.
This post is part of our inaugural Trendspotting Series profiling important ideas that will be shaping some major fields of interest in 2017. Each…
Final Chinese Overseas NGO Law Guidelines Released
In early December 2016, the Chinese government released the official and final version of their new Guidelines on Organizational Registration and Temporary Activities Reporting. These guidelines provide needed information for compliance with the 2016 Law of the People’s Republic of China on…
Five Trends in U.S. Politics
House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) shows President-elect Donald Trump and his wife, Melania Trump, the Speaker's Balcony at the U.S. Capitol on November 10, 2016.
(Photo credit - Zach Gibson/Getty Images)
This post is part of our inaugural Trendspotting Series profiling important ideas that…
Washington Snapshot - December 15, 2016
We will be taking a break from sending Washington Snapshot through the end of this year, and will resume on January 5, 2017. We wish all of our readers a safe and enjoyable holiday season!
News from the Hill
Update on Tax Reform Progression in the Senate
This week, Senate Majority Leader Mitch…
Five Trends in Public Opinion
The American public is divided in its attitudes toward important national issues, and historic allegiances have shifted.
This post is part of our inaugural Trendspotting Series profiling important ideas that will be shaping some major fields of interest in 2017. Each piece represents the…
Five Trends in Communications
"In this country, public sentiment is everything. With it, nothing can fail; against it, nothing can succeed." ~ Abraham Lincoln
This post is part of our inaugural Trendspotting Series profiling important ideas that will be shaping some major fields of interest in 2017. Each piece…
Five Trends in Arts and Culture
The Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra performs at the Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts and Public Policy along with the Voices of Inspiration Chorus and three young vocalists from the Duke Ellington School of the Arts on March 23, 2015.
This post is part of our inaugural Trendspotting Series…
Five Trends in Finance
Banksy's Elephant in a Room. Ignore it at your peril.
This post is part of our inaugural Trendspotting Series profiling important ideas that will be shaping some major fields of interest in 2017. Each piece represents the views of its author(s) and not the views of the Council.
1.…