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.
Partnering with Youth Programs to Expand Impact
Solutions to challenges in our communities often require expertise and insight from many stakeholders, yet we struggle to engage with those who may be different from us, specifically intergenerationally. This session will describe a case study pairing youth with grantees to amplify voices and co-…
Philanthropy as a Force for the Frontline’s Mental and Physical Wellbeing
The goal of the philanthropic sector is to mobilize the funds that allow us to create change in the world. Layered underneath that sweeping vision are the staff and frontline fundraisers who dedicate their lives to this work. Whether they are in the trenches in conflict zones or regularly engaging…
Philanthropy, Journalism, and Bridging Divides
Last year, the Chronicle of Philanthropy launched a new project, called the Commons, that examines how the charitable sector can bring Americans together in a time of hyperpolarization. The Commons explores efforts to bridge divides through reporting, opinion, essays, resources, tools, and more. In…
Place-Based Foundations That are Stretching into New Arenas to Support Community Partners
The Minneapolis Foundation, Midwest Environmental Justice Network, NDN Collective, and RE-AMP Network lead one of the U.S. EPA’s Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking programs. Over three years, they will distribute $40 million in grants to build the capacity of Tribes and…
Raising the Rural Voice in Foundation Giving
Rural America is diverse, and understanding the needs and assets of communities at a granular level is important. Bring your lived and learned experience, share your personal passion for rural funding, and discuss with other funders how philanthropy can better support rural communities. This…
Reduce Burnout and Be More Relevant by Being a Learning Organization
The speed and complexity of change are increasing exponentially. While top-down leadership may have been effective in the past, today we need to co-create our future by unlocking the collective power of our teams and communities. In this interactive workshop, foundation executives will unpack the…
Responsible AI in Philanthropy
This session focuses on how foundations can responsibly adopt AI while upholding ethical standards like equity, transparency, and explainability. Designed for foundation leaders, CIOs, program officers, and strategy directors, this dynamic session will provide practical guidance on navigating AI -…
Revolutionizing Proposal Data Sharing for Funders and Changemakers
This session will introduce “Exchange” powered by the Philanthropy Data Commons (PDC), a novel application that connects proposal data submitted to individual funders and stored in siloed grant management systems and allows grantees to reuse and update their proposal data. Designed for foundation…
Small Funder Collaboration on Mission Aligned Investing
Are you a smaller funder looking to navigate the complexities of impact investing? The path can feel daunting, especially when most resources are tailored to larger foundations. Join this session to discover how smaller foundations can harness the power of collaboration, gain board support, invest…
Creating Pathways to Homeownership
Learn how a funder, a housing agency and local community builders co-created a housing solution that tangibly impacts people’s lives in rural communities. Pathways To Homeownership helps low- to middle-income residents purchase a home, and invests in small-scale housing developers to create…
Resilience and Trauma-Informed Leadership
Do you wonder how to stay engaged and keep moving forward while navigating the current moment? Do you worry about caring for yourself and your team while also getting the work done and rising to this moment? You aren’t alone!
Let’s explore research-based practices and methods we can implement to…
Supporting Local Community Development Through Affordable Energy
This session will discuss the role philanthropies can take in funding local solar energy projects and the benefits these projects can bring to communities. Hear from philanthropies, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and a developer--highlighting the importance of cross-sector collaboration…
Caring for Ourselves and Others in Complex Times
Place-based funders remain committed to serving their communities, including through periods of political and cultural turmoil. For staff to perform at their best, they must also care for themselves. How can executive leaders make sure that happens while practicing their own self-care and…
Supporting Local Priorities with a Global Portfolio
Companies can lead locally in their headquarters' market, while at the same time investing in communities where their global employees live and work. 3M achieves this through a strategic partnership with GlobalGiving, leveraging its expertise in international philanthropy to support locally-led…
Career Pathways Alumni Homecoming
Hosted by Career Pathways
Over the past 10 years, the Career Pathways (CP) alumni network has grown to over 200. We are excited to announce our first in-person homecoming, gathering participants from across all cohorts! This pre-conference is an opportunity to explore future philanthropic…
Building Trust with Policymakers Using the Science of Storytelling
You’re already doing the work of helping your communities thrive. Now let’s make sure you can talk about it in a way that builds buy-in and trust with a key audience: policymakers. This workshop will help you use stories and data to communicate the value of philanthropy and charitable giving. It…