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.
Reimagining the Council on Foundations: Visioning Session with Kathleen Enright - Los Angeles
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 an interactive visioning session…
Reimagining the Council on Foundations: Visioning Session with Kathleen Enright - Detroit
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 an interactive visioning session…
Career Pathways: Opportunities Grow Through Philanthropy
Why Career Pathways
May marked my second session of the year-long Council on Foundations Career Pathways program. I applied to the program because several of my philanthropy mentors who are program alumni found it valuable, and enthusiastically encouraged me to pursue the opportunity. More than a…
Career Pathways: Letting the Sun Shine
“Have a great day and let your sun shine!” These are my departing words for my 8-year-old daughter every morning at drop off. It’s my rally cry hoping she unleashes her true self on the world (well, ok, her second-grade classroom) in everything she does.
Why Career Pathways
The 2019 Career…
Career Pathways: The Transformative Power of Philanthropy
I initially became interested in philanthropy while serving as artistic director of The Harmony Theatre Company, which I cofounded while an undergraduate at Columbia University. Navigating the funding landscape was a nigh-constant challenge, and it was clear that I would need to ascertain quite a…
Unintended Tax Consequences for Fortunate Morehouse College Students? There Could be a Fix for That.
What an incredible announcement on May 19 by billionaire and philanthropist Robert F. Smith who pledged to pay off the student loans of all 2019 Morehouse College graduates. How great for these students. However, as some observe, this incredible gesture of generosity may have a downside in the form…
#shiftthepower: Three Ways Grantmakers Can Uplift Grantees to Create Cascading, Systemic Change
Social impact organizations do tough but vital work in under-resourced spaces — spaces constantly shrinking due to humanitarian emergencies, natural disasters, armed conflict and oppressive governments. The international donor community’s response to this challenging landscape has increasingly…
Women's Foundations and Funds: A Pioneering Force in Philanthropy
Women’s foundations and funds have established themselves as a powerful force in philanthropy dedicated to women and girls. Giving from these organizations is substantial, but aside from a 2009 landscape report from the Foundation Center and Women’s Funding Network, our understanding of women’s…
Washington Snapshot: Preserve Charities and Houses of Worship Act Introduced; Request for Information on Opportunity Zones Regulations
In This Week's Edition of Snapshot...
Preserve Charities and Houses of Worship Act Introduced
Request for Information on Opportunity Zones Regulations
At-Risk Community Index for 2020 Census
States Continue Enacting Targeted Tax Credits
The Council Hosted Public Policy Preconference in…
Racial Equity Forum: Philanthropy and Government - Louisville
Council on Foundations and National League of Cities will convene the last of three conversations across the United States on racial equity. With support from the Lumina Foundation and Annie E. Casey Foundation, philanthropic and government leaders will come together to raise awareness about…
No Time for Complacency: Preparing Foundations for a More Turbulent Future
Leaders in every sector are struggling to plan for a future in which social, digital, political and economic forces create unpredictable change quicker than ever – and the philanthropic field is no exception. To survive and thrive in this turbulent environment, philanthropic leaders must learn to…
Winners of the 2019 Secretary's Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships Announced
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Council on Foundations announced the 2019 winners of the Secretary’s Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships. The awards recognize innovative partnerships between foundations and government that have been…
2019 HR Summit - Registration
Registration
Online Registration
Register Now
Registration Rates
Member Rate before June 15, 2019 = $499
Member Rate after June 15, 2019 = $549
Non-member Rate = $699
Questions?
Monday through Friday | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET
Phone: 202-991-2225 | Email: registration@cof.org…
2019 HR Summit - Travel and Hotel Information
Travel Information
Summit Location
CDC Clifton Campus
1600 Clifton Road
Atlanta, Georgia 30329
Hotel Information
W Atlanta-Midtown
188 14th St NE.
Atlanta, Georgia 30361
You can make reservations online. The special group rate for the summit is $229 per night (price…
2019 Endowments & Finance Summit
The Endowments & Finance Summit, the leading forum at the nexus of philanthropy, finance, investment, and policy is where C-Suite foundation leaders go to explore the shifting forces in the investment landscape; gain invaluable insights on trends, strategies, and new regulations; and have…
Schedule-At-A-Glance
Thursday, September 19
8:30-9:15 a.m.
Networking Breakfast
9:15-10:30 a.m.
Opening Plenary — Meeting Obligations in a Time of Financial Volatility and Uncertainty
10:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions
Demographics, Urbanization and the Impact on Foundation…