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.
Philanthropy's Response to 2020 North American Wildfire Season
OVERVIEW
Communities in California, Oregon, and Washington continue to face devastation from mega wildfires, while Colorado wildfires remain mostly contained.
As updates about the impact of these disasters are known and opportunities to support long-term recovery become available, this page…
Philanthropy's Response to 2020 Iowa Derecho
OVERVIEW
Communities across the Midwest and primarily in Iowa are reeling from a range of catastrophic events caused by a Derecho that hit the area on August 10, 2020. Devastating crops and farmland, and leaving thousands without power for weeks, many in Iowa are still reeling from the significant…
2020 HR Retreat - Speakers
Speakers
Keynote Speakers
Trina C. Olson
Team Dynamics
Alfonso Wenker
Team Dynamics
Culture Speakers
Galen Maness
San Francisco Foundation
Maria Hannon
The Colorado Health Foundation
…
2020 HR Retreat - Sponsors
Sponsors
The Council would like to thank all of the sponsors for their support of the 2020 HR Retreat.
If you would like to learn more about becoming a sponsor, contact Tara Cox at tara.cox@cof.org.
Silver Sponsor
Colorado Health Foundation
Bronze Sponsors
ABD Insurance &…
Washington Snapshot: No Movement, No Deal
With Congress adjourned for the summer, Snapshot will not be published again until September 18. We will issue breaking news as stimulus talks continue or consequential presidential actions occur.
The Coronavirus - THE MORE YOU KNOW
World Health Organization: Situation Dashboard
How…
Balancing Purpose, Payout, and Permanence
"How much should we spend?" It's an essential question for all funders, and an especially complex one for endowed private foundations. The answer of "around 5%" was never universal as foundations sought creative means of ensuring that assets would serve mission rather than the other way…
Career Pathways Alumni | September Community Building Hour
The Council on Foundations’ Career Pathways program (CP) has strengthened and expanded the capacity of philanthropic professionals within the leadership pipeline who are considered, appointed, and retained in senior and executive philanthropic leadership positions. The Council is committed to…
Washington Snapshot: The Next COVID-19 Package
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…
Policy Brief: Foundation Payout and the COVID-19 Crisis
Summary
Since COVID-19 began its devastating course, philanthropy has stepped up to provide new resources and increased flexibility to those organizations and communities most impacted. As of May 2020, the philanthropic response to COVID-19 in the United States totaled more than $6…
Policy Briefing: Upcoming Legislation Addressing COVID-19's Ongoing Impact
Members View the Recording
The health and economic impact of COVID-19 has continued to ripple through communities across the country and the world. Congress is discussing additional legislation to address some of the challenges faced by workers, businesses, nonprofits, and communities. Hear from…
2020 HR Retreat - Working Group
Working Group
Thomas Brewer
Director, Finance & Administration
Ralph M. Parsons Foundation
Keralee Clay
Vice President of Operations
Amarillo Area Foundation
Maria Hannon
Sr. Director of Human Resources
The Colorado Health Foundation
Carly Hare…
2020 HR Retreat - Schedule
Schedule
Stay on the lookout for new information and updates to the Retreat schedule.
Wednesday, September 9
4:30-6:00 p.m.
Welcome & Retreat Opening
Igniting a Culture of Wellness from Within with Robyn E. Cross from ABD Insurance and Dr. Cherie C. Hill, Emory University School…
2020 HR Retreat - Registration
Registration
REGISTER NOW
Enter the Retreat
ENTER NOW
Registration Rates
Member Rate before July 24, 2020 = $249
Member Rate after July 24, 2020 = $279
Non-member Rate = $349
Nonmember registration opens July 25, 2020
Registration Cancellation
All 2020 HR…
Give2Asia's Response to COVID-19
Give2Asia launched its Coronavirus Response Fund on January 23, 2020 with a focus on China, and has since expanded the effort to serve all 23 countries where Give2Asia works in the Asia Pacific region. We are working with in-country health and aid organizations that have national or sub-national…
Charitable Solicitation Regulation and Other State Fundraising Regulations
Legal Compliance Guidance, Publication
A Chapter in Mastering Foundation Law:
The Council on Foundations Compendium of Legal Resources
This chapter of Mastering Foundation Law reviews what foundation managers need to know about state-level regulations of fundraising: why and how states regulate fundraising; the basic requirements for…