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.
Career Pathways: Leadership Lessons on Achieving Equity
Editor's note: This is part of our blog series featuring current participants in the Career Pathways program. Applications for the 2019 cohort open in September.
I believe that it is pretty well understood in the sector that we have an imperative in foundation offices and board rooms to ensure our…
2018 Interns: Wrapping Up the Summer
Editor's Note: The Council thanks our 2018 summer interns for their hard work over the past few months. The summer interns were: Ashul Agrawal, Michael Kelly, Reilly Tifft, Caroline Healey, Chris Tian, Ashley Morrison, and Randall Williams.
As the summer is coming to a close, so is our time with…
Global Philanthropy Update - August 2018
Earlier this week, the Council and Foundation Center released a new flagship global philanthropy report: The State of Global Giving by US Foundations: 2011-2015.
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This report is the latest in our partnership to track trends in how US foundations support international programs. In 1997…
Impact Investing - Beyond Program Related Investments
Editor's note: This post is one in a series highlighting sessions for the upcoming Endowments and Finance Summit, held in Washington, DC, on September 6-7. The Summit is where foundation leaders – such as CEOs, CIOs, CFOs, Senior Investment Officers and board and investment committee members –…
New Report by Council on Foundations and Foundation Center Reveals Global Giving by U.S. Foundations Increased by 29% Over Five-Year Period
A new report released today by the Council on Foundations and Foundation Center reveals that global giving by U.S. foundations increased by 29% from 2011 to 2015, reaching an all-time high of $9.3 billion in 2015. With mounting challenges that transcend national boundaries, it’s increasingly…
The State of Global Giving by U.S. Foundations: 2011-2015
Publication, Research
The Council on Foundations and Candid (formerly Foundation Center) analyzed how U.S. foundations supported international communities, nonprofits, and programs between 2011 and 2015 for our report, The State of Global Giving by U.S. Foundations: 2011-2015.
In addition to a detailed analysis of…
Philanthropy Law in India
View the Recording
The International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) and the Council on Foundations hosted an instructive, engaging webinar that unpacked the legal framework for philanthropy in India. The conversation was led by Indian civil society expert Noshir Dadrawala and cross-border…
Plenary Sessions
Opening Plenary — Harnessing the Momentum, Finding Opportunities, Building Stronger Futures
Thursday, September 6 - 9:15 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
We all wish we could predict the future. For many foundation leaders, this superpower would help them plan for and navigate global financial issues that…
Partnering for Progress
Editor's Note: The following is an edited version of a Mott Perspectives piece written by Ridgway White, president of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. The original was published on the Foundation’s website on July 16, 2018, and is being republished as a part of our series on the winners of the…
Tax Update: Deep Dive into Tax Reform and recent IRS Guidance
Editor's note: This post is one in a series highlighting sessions for the upcoming Endowments and Finance Summit, held in Washington, DC, on September 6-7. The Summit is where foundation leaders – such as CEOs, CIOs, CFOs, Senior Investment Officers and board and investment committee members –…
Washington Snapshot: Johnson Amendment Remains in the Crosshairs, Bill to Repeal UBIT Changes Introduced in the Senate
In This Week's Edition of Snapshot…
Johnson Amendment Attack Reiterated by Sen. Lankford
Bills to Repeal UBIT Changes Introduced in Senate
Bill to Reinstate Schedule B Requirements for All Nonprofits Introduced in Senate
Senate Finance Votes to Advance Treasury/IRS Nominations
Appropriations…
Philanthropy Law in China
View the Recording
The International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) and the Council on Foundations co-hosted an instructive, engaging webinar that unpacked the legal framework for philanthropy in China, featuring Chinese civil society experts Shawn Shieh and Jessica Batke.
Shawn…
Washington Snapshot: New Bill to Expand Foundation Scholarship Programs Introduced in the House, Senate Seeks to Avoid Shutdown Threats by Bundling Spending Bills
In This Week's Edition of Snapshot…
New Bill to Expand Foundation Scholarship Programs Introduced in House
Ways and Means Unveils Tax Reform 2.0 Summary
Senate Finance to Hold Hearing for Treasury/IRS Nominees
Senate Seeks to Avoid Shutdown Threats by Bundling Spending Bills
Primary Runoff…
Strengthening Communities to Be Smoke Free
Editor's Note: This is part of our series focusing on the winners of the 2018 Secretary’s Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships.
In 2016, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced a nationwide smoke-free policy for all public housing locations…
Council on Foundations Applauds Introduction of the Workforce Development Through Post-Graduation Scholarships Act
The Council on Foundations on Tuesday applauds the introduction of the Workforce Development Through Post-Graduation Scholarships Act (H.R. 6486) by Representatives Darin LaHood (R-IL) and Terri Sewell (D-AL) on July 24. The bill would allow charitable foundations to administer post-graduation…