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.
2023 HR Summit
Enter the Summit
In this time of significant transformation, HR, talent, and culture leaders and practitioners have emerged as pivotal drivers in making the workplace more inclusive. Leveraging the lessons learned and fundamental work that occurred over the past few years, organizations have a…
What does the Supreme Court's decision mean for foundations and charitable organizations?
On June 29, 2023, the Supreme Court of the United States announced their opinion in a pair of cases — Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina. The Court held that "Harvard’s and UNC’s admissions…
Public Policy Action Network - November 2023 Meeting
The Council’s Public Policy Action Network is a members-only 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. Policymakers depend on the voices and…
Philanthropy Supporting Ukraine - July 2023
Ukraine’s “Green Economy” Future
How can countries build resilient, carbon-neutral economies? Funders around the world are investing in sustainable energy, working to combat the impact of climate change, and helping environmental nonprofits build green economies. Join us to explore how…
Public Policy Action Network - September 2023 Meeting
The Council’s Public Policy Action Network is a members-only 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. Policymakers depend on the voices and…
Essentials of Policy Advocacy for Grantmakers 2023
The Essentials of Policy Advocacy for Grantmakers course will help foundation staff use their resources effectively to advance public policies that support the greater good. Rather than focusing on what policies foundations should address, this training will focus on how to engage in policy…
How To: Amplifying Community Engagement to Address Common Issues
In this webinar, you’ll learn ideas for collaboration with different communities and stakeholders to enrich the quality of your programs. You’ll walk away with strategies for developing trust and collaboration for community-led initiatives.
In 2020 Comunalia, launched the Active Communities Fund…
Trust-Based and Equity-Focused Disaster Grant Evaluation: Sharing Power When Stakes Are High
Join us to learn strategies for trust-based and equity-focused evaluation for grantmaking in disaster contexts!
The Greater New Orleans Foundation has learned how evaluation, if done with sensitivity to stakeholders' needs, can guide disaster response towards equitable outcomes and hold…
Could the Supreme Court’s Decision on Affirmative Action Affect Philanthropy?
Will the Supreme Court end affirmative action in June? It seems likely, and the legal consequences may ripple beyond college admissions to other sectors, including philanthropy and the wider charitable sector.
As you may know, the Court heard two cases – Students for Fair Admissions (…
Philanthropy Supporting Ukraine - June 2023
Ukraine's Medical and Health Needs
Funders were invited to join this conversation as part of our series of briefings on how philanthropy can support the ongoing and widespread relief, recovery, and rebuilding efforts as a result of Russia's war on Ukraine.
In this roundtable discussion Boris…
Philanthropy's Response to the 2023 Sudan Conflict
Overview
On April 15, conflict broke out in Sudan initiated by two opposing military factions. While the majority of fighting remains in the country's capital, Khartoum, and attempts at peace talks are underway, the conflict has already resulted in the deaths of more than 500 civilians, upwards of…
Executive Leadership
Executive Leaders (CEOs, Presidents, and Executive Directors) are key levers of change in their philanthropic organizations and are well-positioned to foster change in their communities and the sector. The Council knows that executive leaders are key actors in advancing the field to be more diverse…
Better Stories, Better Language
Philanthropy is supporting incredible work for the greater good. But in the ways we talk about that work, we could do better. Even as we evolve to meet the compounding challenges that society faces, trust in institutions, including philanthropy, is falling.
Rebuilding that trust starts with a hard…
What Americans Think About Philanthropy and Nonprofits
The Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy recently completed a study on American attitudes and knowledge about philanthropy. The findings, in short: Americans have favorable impressions of charitable giving and nonprofits, but many are unfamiliar with the sector itself,…
Philanthropy's Response to 2023 Spring Tornadoes
Overview
Severe storms and tornadoes ripped through the Southeast causing dozens of injuries and at least 26 deaths in late March, and in early April, continued to wreck devastation across a broad swath of the country from Arkansas to Delaware. To date, more than 50 people have lost…
Public Policy Action Network - June 2023 Meeting
The Council’s Public Policy Action Network is a members-only 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. Policymakers depend on the voices and…