Public Foundations
Public foundations are grantmaking public charities that gain their funds from a variety of sources, which may include foundations, individuals, corporations, or public entities. Public foundations may engage in fundraising, and may seek broad public financial support. They may or may not have endowments. There is no legal definition of a public foundation, but most dedicate a significant portion of their annual budgets to grantmaking. Most community foundations are also grantmaking public charities.
Since public foundations may be defined in different ways, and there is no official IRS or legal definition of public foundations, it is difficult to arrive at statistics that are fully representative of the field.
Below is everything on our site for public foundations. We strongly recommend that you use the navigation or our search feature to find what you're looking for on our site. Please also visit cof.org/programs-services/public-grantmaking-charities for curated public foundation content.
Nonprofit Law in Ireland
Current as of February 2021 | Download print version (in PDF)
This section describes the legal framework governing nonprofit organizations (also known as non-governmental organizations or NGOs) in Ireland, and includes translations of legislative provisions relevant for a foundation or advisor…
Nonprofit Law in Indonesia
Current as of September 2024 | Download print version (in PDF)
This report describes the legal framework governing nonprofit organizations (also known as non-governmental organizations or NGOs) in Indonesia, and includes translations of legislative provisions relevant for a foundation or advisor…
Nonprofit Law in India
Current as of September 2024 | Download print version (in PDF)
This section describes the legal framework governing nonprofit organizations (also known as non-governmental organizations or NGOs) in India, and includes translations of legislative provisions relevant for a foundation or advisor…
Nonprofit Law in Hungary
Current as of March 2023 | Download print version (in PDF)
This report describes the legal framework governing nonprofit organizations (also known as non-governmental organizations or NGOs) in Hungary, and includes translations of legislative provisions relevant for a foundation or advisor…
Nonprofit Law in Guatemala
Current as of February 2024 | Download print version (in PDF)
This section describes the legal framework of nonprofit organizations (also known as non-governmental organizations or NGOs) in Guatemala, along with translations of legislative provisions relevant for a foundation or advisor…
Nonprofit Law in Germany
Current as of March 2022 | Download print version (in PDF)
This section describes the legal framework of nonprofit organizations (also known as non-governmental organizations or NGOs) in Germany, along with translations of legislative provisions relevant for a foundation or advisor undertaking an…
Nonprofit Law in France
Current as of January 2021 | Download print version (in PDF)
This section describes the legal framework of nonprofit organizations (also known as non-governmental organizations or NGOs) in France, along with translations of legislative provisions relevant for a foundation or advisor undertaking an…
Nonprofit Law in England & Wales
Current as of May 2021 | Download print version (in PDF)
This section describes the legal framework governing nonprofit organizations (also known as non-governmental organizations or NGOs) in England & Wales, and includes translations of legislative provisions relevant for a foundation or…
Nonprofit Law in Czech Republic
Current as of February 2024 | Download print version (in PDF)
This report describes the legal framework governing nonprofit organizations (also known as non-governmental organizations or NGOs) in the Czech Republic, and includes translations of legislative provisions relevant for a foundation or…
Nonprofit Law in Croatia
Current as of December 2020 | Download print version (in PDF)
This section describes the legal framework governing nonprofit organizations (also known as non-governmental organizations or NGOs) in Croatia, and includes translations of legislative provisions relevant for a foundation or advisor…
Nonprofit Law in China
Current as of January 2024 | Download print version (in PDF)
This section describes the legal framework for nonprofit organizations (also known as non-governmental organizations or NGOs) in China, and includes translations of legislative provisions relevant for a foundation or advisor undertaking…
Nonprofit Law in Canada
Current as of April 2024 | Download print version (in PDF)
This section describes the legal framework governing nonprofit organizations (also known as non-governmental organizations or NGOs) in Canada, and includes translations of legislative provisions relevant for a foundation or advisor…
Nonprofit Law in Brazil
Current as of October 2024 | Download print version (in PDF)
This section describes the legal framework of nonprofit organizations (also known as non-governmental organizations or NGOs) in Brazil, along with translations of legislative provisions relevant for a foundation or advisor undertaking an…
Nonprofit Law in Australia
Current as of May 2021 | Download print version (in PDF)
This report describes the legal framework governing nonprofit organizations (also known as non-governmental organizations or NGOs) in Australia, and includes translations of legislative provisions relevant for a foundation or advisor…
Nonprofit Law in Argentina
Current as of July 2023 | Download print version (in PDF)
This report describes the legal framework governing nonprofit organizations (also known as non-governmental organizations or NGOs) in Argentina, and includes translations of legislative provisions relevant for a foundation or advisor…
Nonprofit Law in Afghanistan
Current as of April 2024 | Download print version (in PDF)
This section describes the legal framework governing nonprofit organizations (also known as non-governmental organizations or NGOs) in Afghanistan, and includes translations of legislative provisions relevant for a foundation or advisor…