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: A Budget Deal Could Be Reached Before August Recess; States Sue to Challenge IRS SALT Workaround Rule

In This Week's Snapshot... A Budget Deal Reached? House Repeals the ACA Cadillac Tax Department of Agriculture Scientists Relocated from DC Federal Reserve Board Beige Book Published States Sue to Challenge IRS SALT Workaround Rule Most Legislative Sessions End, Budget Crises Emerge News…

Washington Snapshot: Talks About Raising the Debt Ceiling Resume; Judge Denies DOJ Bid to Swap Lawyers for Census Citizenship Question Case

In This Week's Snapshot... Talks About Raising the Debt Ceiling Resume Department of Education Invites Applications EDA Prioritizes Applications for Projects Located in Opportunity Zones IRS’ National Taxpayer Advocate Report: Recommended EITC Reforms Judge Denies DOJ Bid to Swap Lawyers for…

Giving USA 2019

External Resource

Amid a complex climate for charitable giving, American individuals, bequests, foundations, and corporations gave an estimated $427.71 billion to U.S. charities in 2018, according to Giving USA 2019: The Annual Report on Philanthropy for the Year 2018. Highlights from the Report …

Programming

Thursday, September 19 Opening Plenary - 9:15-10:30 am Meeting Obligations in a Time of Financial Volatility and Uncertainty None of us can see into the future. But for foundation leaders, having that unique ability would be helpful in mitigating global financial issues and trends that force…

Washington Snapshot: House Ways & Means Subcommittee Hearing on SALT, Repeal of UBIT Fringe Benefits Provision Passes Committee

In This Week's Edition of Snapshot... House Ways & Means Subcommittee Hearing on SALT Repeal of UBIT Fringe Benefits Provision Passes Committee Change in the Private Foundation Excise Tax Passes Committee Supreme Court Rules on Census Citizenship Question Wayfair and Tax-Exempt…

2019 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) Philanthropic Side-Events

The High-Level Politcal Forum (HLPF) will meet from July 9-18, with a theme of "empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality." The set of goals that will be reviewed includes Goal 4, Goal 8, Goal 10, Goal 13, Goal 16, and Goal 17. If you are hosting side-events featuring philanthropy…

Improve Peripheral Scanning & Get Deeper Insights

How can foundations better anticipate ways in which the world is changing around them? This is a challenge for every organization functioning in what the military has termed a “VUCA world.” The acronym refers to an operating environment characterized by Volatility, Uncertainty, Change and Ambiguity…

Washington Snapshot: Fiscal 2020 Minibus; Federal Cash Crisis for Humanitarian Assistance at the Border

In This Week's Edition of Snapshot... Fiscal 2020 Minibus Federal Cash Crisis for Humanitarian Assistance at the border House Ways and Means Subcommittee Hearing on Ending the TCJA Tax Treasury Department Issue Final SALT Rules FEMA: Building Resilience Capital Cities Looking to Nonprofits…

Philanthropic Resources Needed to Ensure an Accurate 2020 Census Count

Members, View Recording On July 10, 2:00 p.m. ET, the Council hosted a funders-only webinar with the Democracy Funders 2020 Census Subgroup. During this event, we've learned more about the national philanthropy strategy to ensure an accurate count on the 2020 census and understandwhat…

FARA, FATF, and De-Risking (Oh My)!

Members, View Recording The alphabet soup of global regulatory acronyms – FARA, FATF, and De-Risking to name a few – can lead to confusion for grantmakers. Join us for an update and discussion for how these regulations affect global grantmakers today. Hear directly from global experts and ask your…

Help us Reimagine the Council's Vision & Value to the Field

As you know, the Council’s conference, Leading Together 2019, convened April 29-May 1 in Miami. During my opening remarks, I shared early thoughts on how we can all work together in service of the common good. Many of us were called to philanthropy because of…

Reimagine the Council - August 14 Teleconference

What is the highest and best role for philanthropy? And how can the Council on Foundations support its members and the field to be a strong and trusted partner in advancing the common good? Kathleen Enright, president and CEO of the Council on Foundations, will hold a listening session to explore…

Philanthropy Exchange Basics

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