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. 

Getting Started with Grantmaking in South Africa

Getting Started is a new members-only resource within Country Notes. To help connect you with others working in South Africa, we have identified: Local nonprofit and philanthropic networks Key local legal contacts U.S. foundations with local offices National NGO networks Local…

Brief Overview of Civil Society Organizations in Mexico

This article from NGOSource explains authorization laws and regulations for civil society organizations in Mexico.

Getting Started with Grantmaking in Uganda

Getting Started is a new members-only resource within Country Notes. To help connect you with others working in Uganda, we have identified: Local nonprofit and philanthropic networks Key local legal contacts U.S. foundations with local offices National listing of certified NGOs Local…

A Portrait of Canadian Foundation Philanthropy

A report from Philanthropic Foundations Canada on trends, resources, and strategies in community philanthropy in Canada.

The Global Landscape of Philanthropy

This report from Worldwide Initiatives for Grantmaker Support (WINGS) presents an analysis of the current trends in global philanthropy.

Getting Started Grantmaking in India

Getting Started is a new members-only resource within Country Notes. To help connect you with others working in India, we have identified: Local nonprofit and philanthropic networks Key local legal contacts U.S. foundations with local offices National regulations to note Local…

Kenya: Data Strategy and Capacity Building

This report from Foundation Center highlights the key findings and outcomes from a workshop on data strategy and capacity building in Kenya.

Corporate Philanthropy in Kenya: A Report on Nature, Trends, and Engagements by Corporates in Philanthropy

A summary of key findings from the Yetu Initiative on corporate philanthropy in Kenya.

Bringing Foundations and Governments Closer: Evidence from Kenya

This study from The Development Center of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) provides an overview of the current state of collaboration between foundations and the government in Kenya, and offers recommendations for enhancement.

Getting Started with Grantmaking in France

Getting Started is a new members-only resource within Country Notes. To help connect you with others working in France, we have identified: Local nonprofit and philanthropic networks Key local legal contacts Council members in France Local community foundations You…

Philanthropy in India

This report from Alliance magazine, WINGS, the Centre for Social Impact Philanthropy, and Ashoka University presents the culture and trends of philanthropy in India and the role of foundations in managing charitable giving.

India Philanthropy Report 2018: Understanding Tomorrow's Strategic Givers

This report from Dasra explores strategic giving in India by examining how philanthropists can increase the impact of their giving.

Strengthening Philanthropic Giving and Impact Investing in India

This study from Intellecap and the MacArthur Foundation examines the emerging areas of philanthropic giving and impact investing in India as instruments of the country's development.

The Role of Foundations in Public Debates in Germany

This article explores the history of foundations in Germany and assesses their public role, both as contributors of arguments and policy papers, and as objects of public debate.

Philanthropic Journalism Funding in Germany

This report from the Journalism Funders Forum analyzes and summarizes grantmaking to German journalism and media outlets.

A Paradigm Change: The Case for Private Philanthropy in the Arts in Germany, the Netherlands, and France

A report on the need to increase private philanthropy for the arts and humanities in Germany, the Netherlands, and France after recent cuts in government subsidies. 
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