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.
Humanitarian Crises Around the World
Natural disasters have a way of grabbing media attention and the public’s interest. The visuals of people wading through chest-deep water or picking up the pieces of tornado-ravaged homes are eye-catching. They draw attention and money from philanthropy and everyday donors. However, there are…
Nonprofit Law in Tanzania
Legal Compliance Guidance
Current as of May 2023 | Download print version (PDF)
This section describes the legal framework governing nonprofit organizations (also known as non-governmental organizations or NGOs) in Tanzania, and includes translations of legislative provisions relevant for a foundation or advisor…
One Year Later: How Has COVID-19 Reshaped Philanthropy?
Philanthropy has responded to COVID-19 like no other crisis in recent memory. Through increased giving, reduced restrictions, and a deeper focus on listening to communities and partners, foundations, many of whom signed the Pledge, have stepped up in this moment of crisis. Now, a year…
Field Research: Philanthropy's Response to COVID-19
Lessons and data from the field on philanthropy's response to the pandemic, plus examinations of foundation practices that may become the new normal.
Foundation Practices
Philanthropy and COVID-19: Measuring One Year of Giving - Center for Disaster Philanthropy & Candid (February 2021)…
Letters to Government Officials
At the Council, we leverage our voice on behalf of the philanthropic sector and on issues affecting our members. We reach out to Congress, the White House, and federal agencies when necessary to ensure governmental leadership understands the priorities of philanthropy—and, when appropriate, we…
Philanthropy's Response to 2021 Severe Winter Storms
OVERVIEW
In February, states across the United States saw extreme cold, snow, and ice in many areas unaccustomed to this type of weather. Southern states have seen the largest impact with large-scale power outages, boil water advisories, food shortages, extensive road closures, and deaths. A…
Impact Investing Handbook: An Implementation Guide for Practitioners
External Resource
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors published the "Impact Investing Handbook: An Implementation Guide for Practitioners"—180 pages of helping asset owners turn interest into action. Two years in the making, this practical publication features case studies and detailed guidance for individuals,…
COVID-19 Philanthropy: Measuring One Year of Giving
The COVID-19 global pandemic defined 2020, and it will continue to impact much of the world in the foreseeable future. How did grantmakers and donors respond as communities worldwide struggled – especially Black, Indigenous and people of color as well as other populations that have been…
PhilEx Live: Funding Internet Access for Students and Families
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 supporting internet access for students and families as schools, businesses, and communities struggle with the impacts of…
Leaning Toward Trust: Three Interwoven Narratives of Constructive Change in Disruptive Times
“A time of crisis is not just a time of anxiety and worry. It gives a chance, an opportunity, to choose well or to choose badly.” Archbishop Desmond Tutu
The COVID-19 pandemic forced foundations and nonprofits alike to urgently reconsider their ways of working. Some chose to pull back, while…
Utilizing the Global Goals Mapping Tool
Join us for a one hour webinar to discuss The Global Goals Mapping Tool. The Global Goals Mapping Tool is a comprehensive resource that maps giving and volunteerism using both the IRS National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities (NTEE) codes and the United Nations International Classification of Nonprofit…
Welcoming A New Group of Innovative Leaders to the Council's Board of Directors
The Council on Foundations today announced the appointment of four nonprofit leaders to its Board of Directors, as well as the renomination of two current members for a second term. New members include: Martha I. Jimenez, Executive Vice President and General Counsel of The California Endowment;…
Values-Aligned Philanthropy
The Problem of Hate
Over the past several years, anti-democratic extremism, hate speech, and politically motivated violence have increasingly threatened many of the most cherished values in civil society. Although the vast majority of philanthropic funding goes to charities acting to advance the…
Supporting You in the Work Ahead
For over 70 years, the Council has supported philanthropy’s efforts to advance the greater good amidst persistent global challenges. Over the past 12 months we have faced crises unlike anything we have seen before, including the recent assault on our democracy. And yet, while the struggles we face…
Career Pathways 2021 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 foundations, grantmaking institutions and industries outside of philanthropy. This leadership preparation course is designed for mid-…
Career Pathways - Waldman Scholarship
About the Waldman Scholarship
In 2019, the philanthropic sector lost one of its brightest lights. As Vice President of Human Resources and Administration for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, David Waldman, advocated for and embodied the Foundation’s “culture of health,” ensuring that staff were…