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.
Member Week 2021: Foundation Leader Q&A with Karem Perez
Karem Perez, Motorola Solutions Foundation
Question: What drew you to the field of philanthropy?
Answer: I’ve always sought roles where I knew the work I was doing was making a difference, so it was a perfect fit to lead the Motorola Solutions Foundation. The opportunity to partner with so many…
Member Week 2021: Foundation Leader Q&A with Nick Aldridge
Nick Aldridge, CEO of the PayPal Giving Fund
Question: What drew you to the field of philanthropy?
Answer: The people involved - I was lucky enough to start my career in a UK organization supporting nonprofits and enjoyed meeting leaders working to tackle important and often intractable social…
Member Week 2021: Foundation Leader Q&A with Eva Giglio
Eva Giglio, CME Group Foundation
Question: What drew you to the field of philanthropy?
Answer: Having worked for years in Chicago Public Schools for years prior to this role, I worked closely with philanthropists who helped support many key initiatives for the district. I was excited about the…
General Service Foundation and Tara McKenzie Sandercock Honored as 2021 Council on Foundations Awards Winners
The Council on Foundations (“the Council”) today recognized outstanding leadership in the philanthropic sector through its awards program. Tara McKenzie Sandercock, Senior Vice President of Grants and Community Partnerships at the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, is this year’s winner of…
How to Calculate the Public Support Test
Legal Compliance Guidance, Publication
A Chapter in Mastering Foundation Law:
The Council on Foundations Compendium of Legal Resources
In the United States, organizations that qualify to receive charitable tax-deductible contributions are described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Tax Code. These organizations are divided into two main…
Washington Snapshot: Passage of the Build Back Better Act in the House and new PPP guidance from the IRS
What You Need to Know About Public Policy This Week...
News From the Council
House Democrats Pass Build Back Better Act
IRS Issues Guidance on Paycheck Protection Program
New Funds for Community-Based Efforts to Address Barriers to COVID-19 Vaccination
White House Tribal Nations Actions…
Washington Snapshot: House to Vote on Infrastructure and Reconciliation Packages
What You Need to Know About Public Policy This Week...
News From the Council
House to Vote on Infrastructure and Reconciliation Packages
Federal Healthcare Open Enrollment Extended
Remembering the Sacrifices of the Nation's Veterans
Happening in the States
News from the Council
A Big Thank…
Washington Snapshot: Democrats Announce Build Back Better Framework
What You Need to Know About Public Policy This Week...
News From the Council
Democrats Announce Build Back Better Framework
IRS Sets Standards on LLCs Seeking Exempt Status
Federal Reserve Board Webcast Conference on Topics of Diversity and Inclusion
Child Tax Credit Sign-Up Deadline…
Public Policy Action Network
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.…
Washington Snapshot: Talks Ongoing on Democrats' Legislative Priorities
What You Need to Know About Public Policy This Week...
News From the Council
Talks Ongoing on Democrats' Legislative Priorities
U.S. Department of Education Revamps Public Service Loan Forgiveness
USDA's Equity Commission Nomination
Happening in the States
News from the Council
Join the…
Career Pathways 2022 Program Information - Office Hours
Join us for the 2022 Career Pathways Program Information Office Hours to answer any questions you have about the program, application, Waldman scholarship, etc.!
The 2022 Career Pathways program is expanding! We will host a spring cohort from February to June 2022 and a fall…
New Member Orientation - Member Benefits & Networking
Is your organization a new Council member or are you new to the Council community? Please join us (virtually) to celebrate you, our newest members, during our 2021 Member Week.
This interactive session will help you take advantage of exclusive Council member benefits, while also connecting with…
Aligning Endowments & Investments with Foundation Values
As philanthropy continues to support nonprofits and invest in local communities, foundations across the country are looking beyond their grantmaking to better leverage their endowments and investments to further their mission. The recent 2020 Study of Investment of Endowments for…
2021 Membership Week
Celebrate, Convene, Connect
In 2021, the Council hosted a series of virtual events that offered members the opportunity to hear directly from Council leaders and peers on some of philanthropy’s most important challenges and opportunities. These free events provided connection, insight, and…
Ask Me About the Council's Strategy with Kathleen Enright and Council Leaders
Ask Kathleen & Council Leaders about our 2021 - 2025 Strategic Direction and beyond! Send in your questions about the future of the Council, maybe you are curious about the Council's three strategic areas of focus:
Embrace Better Ways of Operating Within Organizations
Build Common…
2021 Member Week - Ask Me Anything FAQs
What is the Philanthropy Exchange?
The Philanthropy Exchange is a peer-to-peer platform that connects Council members around shared interests, topics, or resources. The Exchange is a member-only benefit open to Council members and invited guests. To help you get started on the Exchange, here is a…