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.
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…
PhilEx Live: Return to Office Vaccine Policies
Developed out of a trending conversation on the Philanthropy Exchange (PhilEx), the Council invites you to join a member-only peer-led discussion of how foundations are approaching COVID-19 vaccine policies in their return-to-office planning.
Join peers from across the country in a discussion…
2021 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Report Shows Increased Diversity in Leadership Roles
The Council on Foundations (“the Council”) today announced the release of the 2021 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Report (GSB), an annual analysis of key human resources trends that includes the most comprehensive data on the composition and compensation of U.S. foundations. Published for the first…
Leveraging Equity to Defund Hate: Values-Aligned Philanthropy in Practice
Many of us know that the philanthropic community has a critical role to play in addressing the increase in hate and hate crimes, but it’s not easy to figure out how to tackle this work.
The Council on Foundations’ white paper, Values-Aligned Philanthropy: Foundations Resisting Hate and Extremism,…
2021 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Report: Key Findings
Publication, Research
Drawing from data provided by 952 institutional responses, the 2021 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 and operations leaders from community foundations,…
Career Pathways - 2025-26 Program
Career Pathways is rigorous, highly personal, and built exclusively for philanthropic professionals. The 2025-2026 program will feature both in-person and virtual components.
Each participant becomes part of a small and mighty group of grantmakers who share, learn, and grow together—through open…
Washington Snapshot: Government Shutdown Averted: Debt Ceiling Looms
What You Need to Know About Public Policy This Week...
News From the Council
Government Shutdown Averted: Debt Ceiling Looms
IRS Release "Tax Tip" on Charitable Deduction
Child Tax Credit Sign-Up Period Extended to November 15
Congress Discusses Economic Impacts of COVID-19
What’s Happening…
Wallace Global Fund and MacArthur Foundation Briefing on Climate Movement and Systemic Racism
Please join us for an important conversation about the climate movement and systemic racism in the United States. We often hear that “durable” US climate policy requires bipartisan buy-in and agreement, but durable policy also requires a movement that can maintain and enhance a functioning…
2021 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Report
Publication, Research
The Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Report (GSB) provides salary, benefits, and diversity data for full-time staff at U.S. foundations to aid in budget planning and personnel practice benchmarking. Information is presented by grantmaker type, foundation type, asset size, and geographic location.…
Washington Snapshot: Congress Juggles Government Funding and Presidential Priorities
What You Need to Know About Public Policy This Week...
News From the Council
Congress Juggles Government Funding and Presidential Priorities
Operation Allies Welcome: Assisting Afghanistan Nationals' Resettlement in the U.S.
Child Tax Credit Sign-Up Deadline: October 15
Senate Confirms…
The Backstop: An Underused Tool for Overcoming the Chicken and Egg Challenge
Nonprofits and their funders know this challenge all too well—an organization has a great idea, so they begin to seek capital from funders or foundations. They hear the same answer regularly – “It sounds like a great idea. Come back to us after you’re further along.”
This presents a chicken and egg…
Council on Foundations Launches Values-Aligned Philanthropy Initiative
In response to a rise in anti-democratic extremism and hate groups in the U.S., the Council on Foundations (Council) today released Values-Aligned Philanthropy: Foundations Resisting Hate and Extremism. The report and accompanying online resource hub are part of the Council’s efforts to prevent…
Sample Policies on Values-Aligned Philanthropy
Sample Document
Community Foundations
Borrego Valley Endowment Fund Sample Policy with “Do No Harm” Approach
Brooklyn Community Foundation DAF Anti-Hate Policy
Community Foundation of the Ozarks Sample Full DAF Policy and Procedures
East Bay Community Foundation Due Diligence Policy FAQ
East Bay Community…