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.
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Council on Foundations Announces Creation of Ethics Task Force
WASHINGTON, DC - The Council on Foundations announced today that it will convene a new task force in the coming months to lift up clear ethical standards for members and to underscore philanthropy’s profound responsibility to the greater good. This task force, chaired by Jamie Merisotis,…
Strengthening Nonprofit Resiliency: What Your Foundation Can Do Now
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the philanthropic community recognized the critical need to respond with fierce urgency to support nonprofit partners. Over 800 organizations pledged to ease or eliminate restrictions on grants and reduce what is asked of grantees, aiming to support to…
2023 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Survey (GSB)
Since 1980, the Council's Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Survey has provided the sector with the most comprehensive data on staff composition and compensation in the United States. Grantmakers rely on this annual report to plan budgets, benchmark personnel policies and practices, determine salary…
Intergovernmental Personnel Act Philanthropy Talent Pipeline Webinar
The Council and the Partnership for Public Service have teamed up to create the IPA Philanthropy Talent Pipeline, a new opportunity for foundations to loan staff and grantee experts to federal agencies for a limited “tour of duty.” The Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) permits federal…
Public Policy Action Network - February Update Meeting
What is the Council’s Public Policy Action Network?
The Council’s Public Policy Action Network is a group of foundation leaders committing their voices, experiences, and networks to engage and educate federal elected officials to foster a policy environment in which philanthropy can thrive.…
Washington Snapshot: Council Launches Recommendations to Strengthen Community Philanthropy
What's Happening This Week...
Council Launches Recommendations to Strengthen Community Philanthropy
ACE Act Introduced in the House
Child Tax Credit Day of Action - February 8
IRS Issues Notices on Nonprofit Retirement Plans…
Council on Foundations' Statement on ACE Act House Introduction
WASHINGTON, DC - On Feb. 3, 2022, Representatives Pingree (ME-1), Reed (NY-23), Khanna (CA-17) and Porter (CA-45) introduced the Accelerating Charitable Efforts Act, the House companion bill to S.1981. The following statement is attributable to Council on Foundations president and CEO Kathleen…
Strengthening Community Philanthropy: Recommendations from Your Sector Colleagues
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Last July, the Council on Foundations convened a group of community foundation leaders to develop a set of principles and policy recommendations to strengthen how community foundations use donor-advised funds (DAFs). The Strengthening Community Philanthropy Ad Hoc…
Like many leaders of private foundations, I have strong beliefs about the importance of growing philanthropy in ways that build trust and advance equity in the field.
That is why I am so appreciative of the work that the Strengthening Community Philanthropy Ad Hoc Working Group (the Working Group)…
PhilEx Live: Non-profit Resilience
Developed out of a trending conversation on the Philanthropy Exchange (PhilEx), the Council invites you to join a member-only peer-led discussion around how foundations are approaching non-profit resiliency in 2022.
Join peers from across the country in a discussion focused on:
Peer Discussion…
Washington Snapshot: Associate Justice Stephen Breyer Announces Retirement
What You Need to Know About Public Policy This Week...
News From the Council
White House Fact Sheet Summarizes New Federal Funds for Local Communities
National Solar Credit Ready Initiative and Philanthropic Partnership
Department of Commerce Seeks Community of Practice Leader
Democrats…
Council on Foundations Welcomes Three Strategic Leaders to 2022 Board of Directors
WASHINGTON, DC - The Council on Foundations (the Council) today announced that its membership has approved the appointment of three philanthropic executives to its board of directors: Srikanth Gopal, Managing Partner of Humanity United; Galen Maness, Chief Operating Officer of the San…
Strengthening Community Philanthropy Ad Hoc Working Group Final Recommendations
The Strengthening Community Philanthropy Ad Hoc Working Group, convened by the Council on Foundations, released the following recommendations on donor-advised funds (DAFs), outlining steps to improve their effective and transparent use.
Standardizing Community Foundation Inactive Funds Policy…
Strengthening Community Philanthropy Ad Hoc Working Group Releases Donor-Advised Funds Recommendations
Community foundations have a long history of working locally to bring together leaders, nonprofits, donors, and others to address persistent problems and identify paths forward. The ongoing pandemic has underscored how local philanthropy, in particular, can address community needs in times of acute…
Ask the Council: Strengthening Community Philanthropy Working Group DAF Recommendations
Last July, the Council on Foundations convened a group of community foundation leaders to develop a set of principles and policy recommendations to strengthen community foundations and donor-advised funds (DAFs) long into the future. Released on February 2, 2022, these recommendations…
Washington Snapshot: New op-ed on donor-advised funds from the Council's President and CEO.
What You Need to Know About Public Policy This Week...
News From the Council
Midterms and Retirements Shake Up Tax-Writing Committees
Senate Votes to Keep Voting Rights Filibuster
Opportunity Zones Come Under Scrutiny
Joint Committee on Taxation Lists Expiring Federal Tax Provisions…