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.
Diving into the Data: Key Findings from the 2015 Grantmakers Salary and Benefits Report
In our continuing blog post series about the 2015 Grantmakers Salary and Benefits Report (GSB), this week we are tackling the key findings section of the report.
Get the Report
Members, remember you can download the GSB for free.
The report can also be purchased from our store at cof.org/2015salary…
Washington Snapshot - June 3, 2016
News from the Hill
International Tax Reform Blueprint Forthcoming
Despite the condensed Congressional session due to the upcoming elections, Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) asserts that his Task Force on Tax Reform will release a substantive blueprint for tax reform before the end of this month.
Though…
2016 HR Summit: Investing in the Talent Pipeline
The 2016 HR Summit: Investing in the Talent Pipeline, co-hosted by the Council on Foundations and CHANGE Philanthropy (formerly JAG), is your unique opportunity to learn how to make your foundation — and philanthropy as a whole — more diverse, equitable, and inclusive.
During this…
Ask the Expert: What Will the New DOL Overtime Rule Mean for You?
On May 18, President Obama and Secretary Perez of the Department of Labor (DOL) announced the publication of a final rule updating the overtime regulations. The Final Rule increases the salary threshold for eligibility of overtime compensation from $455 to $913 per week ($47,476 annually for a full…
World Humanitarian Summit: Philanthropy's Presence and Potential
This post originally appeared on the Alliance Magazine blog.
At the World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) in Istanbul, more than 6000 attendees discussed how the global community delivers aid for the world’s most vulnerable people, especially given commitments to leave no one behind within the…
Washington Snapshot - May 27, 2016
News from the Hill
This Week in Tax Reform
The discussion around tax reform is still alive and well, as demonstrated by hearings this week in both the House and the Senate.
On Tuesday, Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT) of the Senate Finance Committee held a second hearing on corporate tax integration:…
2015 Full Grantmakers Salary and Benefits Report
I’m pleased to share with you that the 2015 Full Grantmakers Salary and Benefits (GSB) Report is now available for immediate download.
What is the GSB Report?
Published since 1980, the GSB Report is an essential foundation operations tool. The research includes responses from 951 foundations…
Lessons For Investing in Philanthropy's Talent from the 2015 Grantmakers Salary and Benefits Report
Today, I am pleased to announce the release of the Council on Foundations’ 2015 Grantmakers Salary and Benefits Report (GSB). Since the Council first began researching compensation more than 35 years ago, this annual report has grown from a small set of salary tables into one of the most extensive…
Sample Board Resolution Authorizing a Program Related Investment
Sample Document
This template community foundation board resolution authorizes the foundation to make a loan as a program-related investment (PRI). These types of activities are generally permitted by state and federal law when they serve to advance the charitable purposes of the foundation.
The term "program-…
Washington Snapshot - May 20, 2016
Executive & Regulatory News
Department of Labor Publishes New Rule on Overtime Regulations
On Wednesday, President Obama and Secretary Perez announced the publication of the Department of Labor’s final rule updating the overtime regulations. The Council has been closely tracking this issue…
Council Comments on Supporting Organization Regulations
The Council submitted comments to the IRS on a proposed rule that outlined a handful of regulations for Type I and Type III supporting organizations. Introduced in February 2016, we identified two proposed regulations that are relevant for our sector:
The notification requirement for…
Finding and Equipping Future Leaders for Social Good
Although the non-profit sector in America is well developed, I’ve often heard foundation and non-profit executives discuss the challenge of attracting and keeping high-performing staff and volunteers. So imagine how that problem is magnified in the developing world, where NGOs make a critical…
What Will the New DoL Overtime Rule Mean for You?
On May 18, 2016, President Obama and Secretary Perez announced the publication of the Department of Labor’s final rule updating the overtime regulations.
The Council has been following this issue closely and is here to help you understand how the changes could impact you and your organization.…
Department of Labor Announces Final Rule on Overtime
On May 18, 2016, President Obama and Secretary Perez announced the publication of the Department of Labor’s final rule updating the overtime regulations.
Key Provisions
The Final Rule focuses primarily on updating the salary and compensation levels needed for Executive, Administrative and…
Council Comments on Treasury/IRS Priorities 2016-2017
The Council on Foundations wrote to the Department of Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to urge them to prioritize several regulations and guidance documents that impact our members. Each year, the Priority Guidance Plan identifies and prioritizes those tax issues that…
Pledge for Success: Engaging Diverse Asset Managers
Download the Presentation Slides
Interested in taking an important step towards foundation financial management excellence? Is your foundation committed to diversity, equity and inclusion? During this webinar, panelists discuss how foundations can demonstrate their commitment to…