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.
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…
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
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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…
Washington Snapshot - May 13, 2016
News from the Hill
Corporate Tax Integration and Philanthropy: What Does it Mean?
There has been a lot of buzz recently around the topic of corporate integration—prompted primarily by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch’s (R-UT) intent to release a corporate integration proposal by the…
Optimizing Technology-Based Learning for Increased Organizational Effectiveness
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Sharing knowledge with stakeholders is an important part of many nonprofit programs, but what does this look like? To answer this question, the Cornerstone OnDemand Foundation and NTEN: The Nonprofit Technology Network surveyed nonprofits and…
Recording
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In 2015, the Council and ICNL convened foundations to discuss how a draft Foreign NGO law in China might impact their work. The Council also submitted formal comments about concerns with this law to the Chinese government.
In mid-March 2016, China approved the long-awaited…
Five Tips to Enhance Your Use of the Exchange
When we face a new challenge, one of our first instincts is to reach out to someone for advice. By collaborating, sharing resources, and discussing common challenges, you and your peers multiply your impact and advance the common good.
The Philanthropy Exchange is an online platform devoted to…
Sample Document
The grantmaking application process is a big lift for foundations and nonprofits, alike. This primer takes a look at streamlining the application process from RFP to grant agreement. Found in the guide is a how-to on creating RFPs, questions to ask during the grant application review, sample…