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.

Washington Snapshot: The CDC Has Issued Recommendations to Guide Schools, Businesses, and Others Into the Next Phase of the Coronavirus Pandemic

The Coronavirus - THE MORE YOU KNOW World Health Organization: Situation Dashboard How Philanthropy Can Respond: Center for Disaster Philanthropy Council on Foundations: COVID-19 Resource Hub List of COVID-19 Response Funds Council's Comprehensive Coronavirus…

Washington Snapshot: Congress and the White House are Split on the Contents of a Fourth Coronavirus Relief Legislation

COVID-19: Place-Based Grantmakers and Investing in Local Communities

View the Recording With COVID-19 there seem to be more questions than answers, particularly for funders who want to respond effectively and efficiently. The Council is a co-sponsor of the COVID-19 webinar series from the Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP), which brings expert panelists…

Washington Snapshot: The Battle Lines are Firming Up about the Fourth Coronavirus Relief Bill

HR Leaders Peer Exchange: Considerations for Returning to Work

As organizations continue COVID-19 response efforts, HR leaders in philanthropy are thoughtfully introducing innovative practices about returning to work, while coping with new and complex challenges. Join us for a facilitated, small-group dialogue to explore the issues you are considering as you…

Strengthening Cyber Security for Foundations & Nonprofit Partners

COVID-19 has revealed the inadequacies of many foundation and nonprofit virtual strategies. Having an up-to-date cybersecurity strategy is key to ensuring your foundation’s ability to respond to this ongoing crisis while enabling and empowering your nonprofit partners to accomplish their…

Washington Snapshot: Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act passes Congress

Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, 2020 (H.R. 266)

Bill #4 – Enacted April 24, 2020 Approximate appropriation: $484 billion Comprehensive Coronavirus Legislation Guide for the Charitable Sector This is a summary of the fourth bill Congress passed to help with the effects of the coronavirus outbreak. This guide highlights the specific provisions…

Making Grants to Crowdfunding Campaigns During Disasters

Legal Compliance Guidance

You may wonder whether you can make grants to GoFundMe campaigns that are supporting localized efforts during disasters. Proceed cautiously: GoFundMe and many similar crowdfunding platforms are not registered 501(c)(3) public charities, and therefore you need to examine carefully if the campaigns…

Snapshot: The CARES Act and other Stimulus Packages Passed by Congress include Supports for Nonprofits

Listening and Learning from Nonprofit Partners During Disasters

Big thank you to our partner, The Center for Effective Philanthropy for making this webinar possible! More than 600 philanthropic organizations have committed to listening to their partners—especially to those communities least heard—and lifting up those voices to inform and…

Extension of Tax Filing Deadlines for Tax-Exempt Organizations in 2020

Legal Compliance Guidance

IRS Notice 2020-23, issued on April 9, 2020, clarifies that tax-exempt organizations are fully included in COVID-19 relief. Specifically, the filing and tax payment deadlines for IRS Form 990 series (990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, and 990-T) normally due between April 1, 2020 and July 15, 2020 are…

Philanthropy's Response to Spring 2020 Severe Storms

Disaster Overview Communities across the South and Southeastern United States are reeling from at least 34 tornadoes and severe storms that have left many dead and more than a million people are without power. This is particularly devastating for an area of the country that has been…

What is the Courageous Opportunity for Companies in this Crisis?

Joint Letter The global community is in the middle of a cataclysm that is unprecedented in modern times as it stares down COVID-19. The humanitarian and economic toll is staggering, and the future is unfathomable. While all sectors are pivotal throughout this crisis, the world’s leading…

HR Leaders Peer Exchange: Managing the Talent Pipeline During COVID-19

As organizations continue COVID-19 response efforts, HR leaders in philanthropy are managing through a wide range of new and complex challenges. Join us for a facilitated, small-group dialogue to explore the implications this pandemic is having on your talent management efforts, including remote…

HR Leaders Peer Exchange: Culture & Wellness in the Midst of COVID-19

As organizations continue COVID-19 response efforts, HR leaders in philanthropy are thoughtfully introducing innovative practices to care for the health and well-being of their employees, while coping with new and complex challenges. Join us for a facilitated, small-group dialogue to explore the…

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