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.
Case Study: Expanding Philanthropy - Mission-Related Investing at the F.B. Heron Foundation
External Resource
Prepared by the Southern New Hampshire University's School of Community Economic Development and available through Mission Investors Exchange, this case study explores the details of the F.B. Heron Foundation's rationale, exploration, and implementation of its mission-related investment strategy,…
Compounding Impact: Mission Investing by U.S. Foundations
External Resource
This report by FSG Social Impact Advisors provides the first comprehensive analysis of mission investing by U.S. foundations and analyzes the activity of 92 U.S. foundations, which have made a combined total of $2.3 billion of mission investments.
Mission Possible: Emerging Opportunities for Mission-Connected Investment
External Resource
From the New Economics Foundation, Mission Possible considers how foundations might more effectively use a proportion of their endowment in support of the change they set out to create – their mission. Starting from the premise that paths are made by walking, it explores the potential of ‘mission-…
Getting Started with Evaluation
Fundamentals
As different as foundations can be from one another, they all share the need to know what works and, especially, what works well. The more foundations can show how their grants are making a difference, the more value they can bring to their communities.
To know what works, foundations must…
Getting Started With Social Media
Fundamentals
Social media is an increasingly prevalent part of our world. Whether it’s on the news, sitting in traffic, or talking with colleagues, you’ll be hard-pressed to avoid mention of Facebook or Twitter. Is there a good way for your foundation to become involved?
Perhaps your board chair suggested that…
First 100 Days of the Program Officer: Advice from the Field
Fundamentals
Note to the Program Officer
The scope of the program officer job description has evolved. Where it was once primarily tactical—reviewing funding requests and developing requests for proposals—the program officer’s role more commonly includes strategic activities. Program officers must master three…
Sample Disclosure and Confidentiality Statement for Staff and Board Members
Sample Document
You can use this document to guide the development of your disclosure and confidentiality statement for staff and board of directors.
Building a Successful CEO-Board Chair Relationship
Fundamentals
Both the board and CEO advance each foundation’s mission. They hold different responsibilities, but they need to support and balance each other.
The board chair-CEO partnership is crucial to your foundation’s effectiveness, as well as to your success as a CEO. As one CEO said, “To have a…
Sample Board of Directors Election and Retention Policy
Sample Document
This is a sample document to guide the development of your Board of Directors election and retention policy.
Disaster Philanthropy
Foundations often play an essential role in disaster relief and recovery. Not only do foundations provide grants and help raise money, they also use their experience and expertise to help civic leaders and responders distribute aid and rebuild communities.
Our disaster grantmaking resource page…
India: My Five-Star Experience in Uttar Pradesh
Blistering sunlight broils our small group as we gingerly perch around the edges of the raised bed our hosts have set out for us in front of their hut in Godha Village. We’ve come to visit a few of the 100 ultra-poor women in rural Uttar Pradesh recently employed by our local partner, a social-…
990 Filing for Small Public Charities
Legal Compliance Guidance
Under the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA), any organization that is not required to file Form 990 because it is a “small public charity” will be required to submit an annual 990-N report to the IRS. The IRS posted FAQ's with additional information about the filing requirement. A “small public…
Public Disclosure of Form 990-T for Private Foundations and Public Charities
Legal Compliance Guidance
Under the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA), the rules for public disclosure of the Form 990-T by public charities and private foundations became identical to those for Form 990.
Which forms are affected?
Any Form 990-T filed after August 17, 2006.
What are the public disclosure requirements…
Contributions of Fractional Interests in Tangible Personal Property
Legal Compliance Guidance
The Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA) imposes requirements for determining the charitable deduction permitted for gifts of fractional interests in tangible personal property.
What contributions are affected?
These requirements apply to contributions made after August 17, 2006.
What is…
Donor Guidance for Non-Cash Charitable Contributions
Legal Compliance Guidance
Contributions of clothing and household items
Section 1216 of the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA) imposes requirements for contributions of clothing and household items to charity. The provision is effective for contributions made after the date of enactment (August 17, 2006).
In general,…
Tax Reporting for Supporting Organizations
Legal Compliance Guidance
Affected transactions: Returns filed for taxable years ending after August 17, 2006.
Are all supporting organizations required to file Form 990?
Yes. Prior to the enactment of the Pension Protection Act of 2006, public charities that normally received less than $25,000 in annual gross receipts…