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.
2022 HR Retreat
Over the past two years, the purpose and design of the workplace, a term once used to describe the physical location of an organization, has evolved to include an ever-changing and complex mix of technology, places, and people. Throughout this time, philanthropic employers and HR leaders have…
Grantmaker Ethics and Accountability
Philanthropy has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years in terms of the sources of wealth underlying charitable gifts, the allocation of resources, and its decision-making processes. More than ever, those engaged in philanthropy need an ethical orientation to inform their work.
Combining…
Washington Snapshot: Nonprofit Strength and Partnership Act Introduced in the House
What's Happening This Week...
Uniting Americans Through Service: Philanthropy and AmeriCorps "Meet and Greet"
Nonprofit Strength and Partnership Act Introduced in the House
Council Submits Comments on Foreign Agents Registration Act…
Submitted Testimony on “Enhancing the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938”
Thank you for the opportunity to provide written testimony for the record on the subject of “Enhancing the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938.” We commend the committee for holding a hearing on this important topic as nonprofit organizations continue to respond to global crises and seek…
Legal Office Hours - Global - June 2022
Reach out to educate@cof.org for access to the recording.
As part of our Member Week programming, Council attornies Remy Barnwell and Ben McDearmon hosted Legal Office Hours - Global Topics. This members-only Q&A discussion addressed legal questions, trends in global philanthropy, and the…
Uniting Americans through Service: The Power of AmeriCorps and Philanthropy Working in Partnership
View our conversation with Michael D. Smith, newly appointed CEO of AmeriCorps! The conversation, hosted in partnership with Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement, explored how philanthropy and AmeriCorps (the federal agency for national service and volunteering) can connect to advance the…
Definitions of Hate and Extremism
Anti-Defamation League
Hate Group: An organization whose goals and activities are primarily or substantially based on a shared antipathy towards people of one or more other different races, religions, ethnicities/nationalities/national origins, genders, and/or sexual identities. The mere presence…
Washington Snapshot: FARA Hearing, Judge Jackson's Confirmation, and More
What's Happening This Week...
On the Blog: Jamie Merisotis, Chair of New Ethics Task Force
Foundations on the Hill 2022 Wraps Up
Council Submits Testimony to Senate Finance Committee
House Holds Hearing on Enhancements to…
Submitted Testimony on “Examining Charitable Giving and Trends in the Nonprofit Sector”
Thank you for the opportunity to provide written testimony for the record on the subject of “Examining Charitable Giving and Trends in the Nonprofit Sector.” We commend the committee for holding this hearing during a pivotal moment for nonprofits and their philanthropic partners.
The Council on…
Washington Snapshot: Register Now for Foundations on the Hill 2022
What's Happening This Week...
Register Now for Foundations on the Hill
Last Chance to Apply for HUD Secretary's Award
House to Vote on Retirement Bill Next Week
President Biden to Release FY2023 Budget Request Monday…
Washington Snapshot: Summary of Senate Finance Committee's Hearing on Charitable Giving
What's Happening This Week...
Senate Finance Committee Holds Hearing on Charitable Giving
Congressional Research Service Releases Report on Charitable Deduction
Census Undercount of Young Children Persists in 2020
National…
Guidance for Making Grants to Support Ukraine
Legal Compliance Guidance
Over the last two weeks, we’ve received scores of questions from the field about how to help the Ukrainian people during the ongoing Russian invasion, including during our recent webinar with the State Department. The outpouring of support and willingness to make immediate relief funds available…
Washington Snapshot: Members of Ways and Means Committee Send Letter in Support of DAFs
What's Happening This Week...
Senate Finance Committee to Hold Hearing on Charitable Giving and Nonprofit Sector
Summary: Congress's FY2022 Government Funding Bill
Members of the Ways and Means Committee Send Letter Opposing…
Public Policy Action Network - June Update Meeting
What is the Council’s Public Policy Action Network?
The Council’s Public Policy Action Network is a group of foundation leaders committing their voices, experiences, and networks to engage and educate federal elected officials to foster a policy environment in which philanthropy can thrive.…
Public Policy Action Network - May Update Meeting
What is the Council’s Public Policy Action Network?
The Council’s Public Policy Action Network is a group of foundation leaders committing their voices, experiences, and networks to engage and educate federal elected officials to foster a policy environment in which philanthropy can thrive.…
HR Roundtable - April 2022
Join this peer-to-peer conversation with HR, Culture and Talent leaders in philanthropy to discuss best practices and new ideas related to talent management, organizational culture, and other operational functions. In partnership with the Disability & Philanthropy Forum, this informal…