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.
LATAM & Caribbean Funder Circle - April 2026
This peer-learning space brings together funders working across the Latin America and Caribbean region and is designed to be an informal, peer-led conversation where participants can share experiences and learn from one another as legal, regulatory, and security dynamics continue to shift across…
Asia-Pacific Funder Circle - April 2026
This peer-learning space brings together funders working across the Asia-Pacific region and is designed to be an informal, peer-led conversation where participants can share experiences and learn from one another as legal, regulatory, and security dynamics continue to shift across the region. ICNL…
Guidance for Funders on the Iran War 2026
As is the case with most military conflicts, humanitarian needs will inevitably escalate in the region. For those interested in providing aid or support to people affected by the war, this page offers legal guidance, background information, and suggested funding avenues.This page will be updated as…
Listening Skills for Chaotic Times
This session offers practical tools and case studies to help funders listen quickly and, effectively, and without burdening grantees in times of upheaval—even when communities are sharing conflicting opinions and input. This is a part of the Building Up to Building Together webinar series. If…
Strategy in the Age of Chaos: Strategic Foresight for Philanthropic Leaders
Times of rapid change demand leaders skilled in both improvisation and imagination. Both of these skills require practice. This session introduces the foundations of strategic foresight and equips participants with practical techniques to expand possibility, challenge assumptions, and explore…
Washington Snapshot: Register for Our Upcoming Webinar on the Basics of Civic Engagement
Philanthropic organizations face heightened attention and expectations. To support Council members, our Legal Resources team is hosting a webinar on what philanthropic organizations need to know to engage confidently and responsibly in civic engagement work. Plus, FOTH26, Council testimony for the…
Why Psychological Safety Matters for Trust, Collaboration, and Shared Power
Discover how creating a sense of psychological safety is an essential foundation to building trust, sharing power more fairly, and including everyone’s voice. Learn how care and accountability strengthen meaningful partnerships, practice healthier ways of working together in mission‑driven settings…
2026 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Survey (GSB)
Since 1980, the Council's Grantmaker Salary and Benefits (GSB) Survey has provided the sector with the most comprehensive data on staff composition and compensation in the United States. Grantmakers rely on this annual report to plan budgets, benchmark personnel policies and practices, determine…
Building Together 2026 - Plenary Sessions
Plenary SessionsThe Building Together plenaries will take attendees on a three-part journey into building the heartset, mindset, and skillset needed to constructively engage across differences, find common ground, and solve shared problems. These sessions are designed to ground participants in the…
Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Report: Board Compensation Tables
The Grantmaker Salary and Benefits (GSB) Board Compensation Tables provide foundation boards and staff with the tools they need to benchmark their board compensation policies and practices against peers in the field. Released every two years and containing data collected through the Council’s…
Washington Snapshot: Secure your spot at Foundations on the Hill 2026
The landscape for philanthropy shifted in 2025. How is your organization preparing for what comes next in 2026 and beyond? Join us for Foundations on the Hill on March 16-19 to build the long-term advocacy skills needed to engage policymakers confidently and shape the environment in which…
Court Cases That Have Been Decided or Dismissed
Legal Compliance Guidance
The Council is committed to helping our members stay informed about litigation that may have an impact on the philanthropic sector. This page lists cases that we tracked through their conclusion, whether they were decided in court or by settlement. Please see our list of ongoing cases we are…
Bridging Without Breaking: Leadership in Polarizing Times (CEO Only)
Calls to bridge divides often collide with real tensions inside foundations – across boards, donors, DAF holders, staff, and grantees who hold differing political and ideological views. This CEO-only session features foundation CEOs grappling with those realities in real time, sharing how they set…
Strengthening Communities Through Language
Language shapes how communities experience trust, belonging, and collaboration—often in ways we don’t intend. This session is designed for funders interested in strengthening trust, reducing risk, and supporting community problem-solving through more intentional language choices.We’ll explore how…
Guidance Memorandum for Foundations for Interacting with Immigration Officials on their Property
Legal Compliance Guidance
Prepared by Leon Fresco, Partner at Holland & Knight LLP for the Council on Foundations | Finalized February 2026Download this guidance as a PDF.BackgroundThe purpose of this memo is to provide guidance to foundations for interacting with immigration agents on their property. Although there was…
Communications Toolkit for Working Across Differences
Developed in partnership with Hattaway Communications, this free toolkit draws on our national survey of 1,000 American adults, in-depth one-on-one interviews, and a landscape analysis to reveal how people view work to connect and collaborate across differences and the role that foundations should…