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.
Better Stories, Better Language: A New Voice for Philanthropy
The Council on Foundations and the Center for Public Interest Communications have recently completed a scan of the dominant narratives around foundations. Our findings, in short: We need better stories and better language if we really want to lift up the positive impact of our work, push back…
Public Policy Action Network - March 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…
Trends in Philanthropy Tech: Findings from 2022 Survey of Grantmakers
Results are in from the 2022 State of Philanthropy Tech survey, conducted every two years by Technology Association of Grantmakers (TAG). Join this interactive call to explore key findings and trends.
This is the only comprehensive survey on the current state of technology in…
Philanthropy's Response to the Turkey and Syria Earthquake
Overview
More than 47,000 people have been killed and tens of thousands more injured after a powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Turkey (Türkiye) and Syria, resulting in the deadliest earthquake to hit the region in over two decades. A large population of people had already been…
Closing the Wealth Gap to Strengthen American Communities
Every day, more than 50 million Americans live in or near financial crisis, threatening to undercut a future of shared prosperity, greater opportunity, and increased equity. How can funders effectively address this pervasive issue?
In this webinar, we partner with Arabella Advisors to …
Accepting Cryptocurrency as Charitable Contributions
Legal Compliance Guidance
Accepting Cryptocurrency as Charitable Contributions will help community foundations navigate questions and concerns around receiving cryptocurrency as charitable contributions. Get comprehensive, state-by-state information from the Council's Legal Resources Team on how your foundation can…
2022 Year in Review: Looking Within and Acting Together
At home and across the country, the Council community flourished in 2022. Check out the graphic below to see the metrics behind the impact, and read the full Year in Review, including a letter from our President and CEO, to learn more.
Download the Year in Review.
Philanthropy's Response to California's Storms
Overview
California experienced one of the state's most devastating disasters this January when historic storms devastated a large portion of the state, leaving at least 20 people dead. There have been 9 atmospheric rivers, bringing massive flooding, tornado-like winds, dangerous mudslides, and…
From Polarization to Collaboration: Philanthropy’s Role in Bridging Differences
To do our work well and uphold our promise to society, leaders in philanthropy must try to foster a sense of shared humanity, build common ground, and work collaboratively for the greater good. But how can we do that at a time of incredible division and mistrust? Join us for a…
Webinar: Senior Philanthropic Leaders Meeting with Secretary of Education, Dr. Miguel Cardona
Executive leadership of the Council on Foundations and Hispanics in Philanthropy hosted this kick-off dialogue with foundation executives and senior staff with the U.S. Secretary of Education, Dr. Miguel Cardona. Ulcca Joshi Hansen, Co-Interim Executive Director of Grantmakers for Education…
Bridging Differences Leadership Cohort
The Bridging Differences Leadership Cohort is a facilitated virtual learning experience that supports funders looking to build constructive dialogue and understanding across differences. Hosted by the Council on Foundations in partnership with the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley (GGSC…
Building Common Ground
To uphold our promise to society, philanthropy must be a leader in seeing our shared humanity and working together for the greater good. Positive change doesn’t always come easily, especially in times of division and mistrust. It often requires action from a broad coalition of people and groups who…
Philanthropy Supporting Ukraine - January 2023
Since February 24, 2022, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians affected by the Russian war have sought safety in Canada and the United States. The fourth funder-only roundtable series will focus on how Canadian and U.S. governments, alongside private and community foundations, have welcomed and…
Philanthropy's Response to Gun Violence and Mass Shootings
Overview
Gun violence is a constant threat to communities across the United States. While mass shootings capture media attention and public outrage, gun violence is a specter over many Americans' daily lives.
Funders across the country have been called to action to address gun violence and…
Philanthropy Supporting Ukraine - December 2022
With the war in Ukraine far from over, the immediate wave of support from philanthropy has dwindled. However, the war continues to have devastating impacts on Ukraine, Ukrainians globally, global food insecurity, and the global economy. In partnership with the Community Foundations of Canada,…
2022 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Report: Key Findings
Publication, Research
Drawing from data provided by 1,003 institutional responses, the 2022 GSB Key Findings highlights important human resource trends that are shaping the philanthropic sector. This year’s key findings feature the voices of human resources professionals and leaders from across the sector as they…