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.
Public Policy Action Network - November 2022 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…
Public Policy Action Network - October 2022 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…
Public Policy Action Network - September 2022 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's Response to Jackson Water Crisis
Overview
Heavy rain led to severe flooding in Jackson, Mississippi, which resulted in the damage of a major water treatment plant. The city's pipes are running dry or likely chemically contaminated, leaving thousands of residents without clean tap water. Jackson had already been under a…
Philanthropy's Role in Realizing the Localization Agenda
After the outbreak of COVID-19, philanthropic organizations across the world committed to increased flexibility and trust with nonprofit partners. With new data showing only a 1 percentage point increase in US foundation grants going directly to organizations in other countries since…
Philanthropy's Response to Pakistan Floods
Overview
As of late August 2022, Pakistan has been hit with monsoon rains leading to flooding and landslides that have killed over 1,000 people and impacted millions. Thousands of livestock have been killed as well, a critical source of sustenance and income generation for many families. Over…
2021 Council on Foundations - Commonfund Study of Investment of Endowments for Private and Community Foundations (CCSF)
Publication, Research
The CCSF Study is the field’s most comprehensive and authoritative study on investment and governance policies and practices. The 2021 CCSF studies 231 private and community foundations that represent $119.7 billion in assets. Topics covered include:
Returns and Investment Objectives
Asset…
Webinar Recording: Rules of Advocacy and Lobbying for Grantmakers
It is easy to get hung up on what you think you cannot do when engaging with policymakers. The good news is, you can do more than you may think!
Though the law varies among different types of foundations, all foundation types can engage in advocacy! The Council on Foundations Legal…
Rules of Advocacy and Lobbying for Grantmakers
Recording
Members, access for free
Nonmembers, purchase in store
It is easy to get hung up on what you think you cannot do when engaging with policymakers. The good news is, you can do more than you may think!
Though the law varies among different types of foundations, all foundation types can engage in…
Career Pathways Alumni Spotlight: Exploring Knowledge Work in Today’s Philanthropy
Career Pathways is the Council on Foundation’s executive leadership development program with a primary goal to promote diversity among decision makers in the field. The Career Pathways Alumni network is composed of stellar executive leaders committed to advancing equity in the sector. This…
Career Pathways 2023 Program Information - October Office Hours
Join us for the 2023 Career Pathways Program Information Office Hours and get answers to any questions you have about the program, application, Waldman scholarship, etc.!
The Career Pathways program is a highly selective pipeline expansion opportunity open to individuals from diverse…
Career Pathways 2023 Program Information - September Office Hours
Join us for the 2023 Career Pathways Program Information Office Hours and get answers to any questions you have about the program, application, Waldman scholarship, etc.!
The Career Pathways program is a highly selective pipeline expansion opportunity open to individuals from diverse…
Career Pathways 2023 Program Information Session
The Career Pathways program is a highly selective pipeline expansion opportunity open to individuals from diverse backgrounds who are currently employed in philanthropic institutions. This leadership development training is designed for mid- to senior-level career professionals committed to…
2022 UN General Assembly Philanthropic Side-Events
This page is an archived schedule of philanthropic side-events from the 2022 United Nations General Assembly. See the most recent UNGA schedule instead.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some of the UNGA side-events will be virtual or hybrid again. This page highlights events that may be of interest to…
Responding to Specific Disasters
Use these resources for tailored responses to specific disasters:
Kentucky Floods
2022 Afghanistan Earthquake
Gun Violence and Mass Shootings
New Mexico Wildfires
Russian Invasion of Ukraine
Hurricane Ida
Afghanistan Refugee Crisis
2021 Haiti Earthquake
North America Wildfires
Hurricane…
Charitable Sector Mourns Loss of U.S. Rep. Walorski
(WASHINGTON) - Today, five national organizations from the U.S. charitable sector released this statement about U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski and two of her staff members. The three passed away on August 3, 2022.
The organizations are: Independent Sector, Council on Foundations, National Council of…