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.
Indicates Members-Only Content
Workshop: Othering & Belonging Institute
Long Bridges: How We Rehumanize One Another Across Big Divides What it is: This interactive workshop will help participants understand, develop, and implement innovative strategies through which organizations can meaningfully bridge "long" racial, ideological, or urban-rural divides. The…
Workshop: Horizons Project
Our Shared Future: Integrating Approaches to Social Change What it is: In this workshop we will learn about the many networks and approaches working towards social change; leaning into different frameworks that surface natural tensions, and uncovering the mindsets needed to identify and…
Workshop: Trust for Public Land
Building Communities of Belonging in Public Spaces What it is: An interactive workshop that will explore best practices in community engagement in public spaces (parks, libraries, or other community gathering places) where democracy can thrive and bring people together across lines of…
Workshop: The Colossian Forum
Practicing Peace: Cultivating Emotional Maturity for Leading Across Difference What it is: Exhaustion, uncertainty, and conflict take a toll on every leader. Under pressure, we default to avoiding, appeasing, or pushing through—but these responses often leave us stuck. Emotional maturity…
Workshop: University of Chicago Forum For Free Inquiry & Expression
Free Expression and the Conditions for Transforming Disagreement for Better Collective Decision Making What it is: A workshop on how to harness disagreement and tension as catalysts for sharper thinking, stronger decisions, and more effective collective action. Free expression and healthy…
Workshop: Greater Good Science Center
Bridging to Belonging: Science to Practice What it is: A hands-on workshop where you'll learn and practice science-backed tools for supporting connection and creating spaces for belonging. We'll do a deep dive into the evidence and practices of belonging and explore how it can support the work…
Workshop: Essential Partners
Building Thriving Communities: Connecting the Cornerstones of Community to Catalyze Change What it is: A hands-on workshop where you’ll learn dialogic practices that help shift people from conflict to curiosity and, when leveraged at scale, build more resilient, hopeful, and cohesive…
Workshop: Constructive Dialogue Institute
Leading in Turbulent Times: Building Team Resilience Through Dialogue What it is: A hands-on workshop that explores how leaders at any level can use constructive dialogue skills to navigate and foster organizational resilience through divided times. Participants will learn and practice…
Break
Take this opportunity to connect with fellow attendees, visit our partner tables, browse our bookstore, enjoy a snack, or recharge in our Brain Break room.
Coffee with Your Community: Corporate Foundations
Gather during our afternoon break to connect with fellow attendees from Corporate Foundations.
Lunch with Practice Team
Connect with your Practice Team over lunch to reflect on what you’re learning, practice new skills, and consider take-home strategies relevant to your work.
Puppy "Paws"
We are partnering with local rescue Motley Zoo Animal Rescue to bring loveable, huggable (and adoptable!) puppies to Building Together 2026. Stop by for a snuggle!
Puppy "Paws"
We are partnering with local rescue Motley Zoo Animal Rescue to bring loveable, huggable (and adoptable!) puppies to Building Together 2026. Stop by for a snuggle!
Break
Take this opportunity to connect with fellow attendees, visit our partner tables, browse our bookstore, enjoy a snack, or recharge in our Brain Break room.
Plenary Session: Meeting Conflict with Courage and Hope
Division continues to shape our politics, our communities, and even our sense of one another. In this plenary we’ll take a clear-eyed look at the stark challenges of our time—including the growing realities of political violence and extremism. Together, we’ll consider what it means to live in a…
Breakfast Meetup: 2026 Working Group
Working Group members are invited to enjoy time together over breakfast.