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.
Recollections from the Next Generation: Council Interns Reflect
By Meghan Irvine
It is truly mind boggling to think that my time at the Council is wrapping up. It seemed like just yesterday, or six short weeks ago to be exact, that I was nervously entering a new internship in an unfamiliar city, with little knowledge about foundations and having no idea what…
Council Comments on Treasury/IRS Priorities 2017-2018
The Council on Foundations wrote to the Department of Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to urge them to prioritize several regulations and guidance documents that impact our members. Each year, the Priority Guidance Plan identifies and prioritizes those tax issues that…
Toward More Inclusive Diversity in the Philanthropic Sector: LGBTQ People and People With Disabilities
Editor's Note: This was first published on Philanthropy News Digest's PhilanTopic blog.
The philanthropic sector has taken steps to address the lack of inclusion of women and people of color in its talent pool. But newly released research from the Council on Foundations reveals that…
Washington Snapshot - July 27, 2017
In This Week's Edition of Snapshot…
Tax Reform Update: Senate begins debate on health care, tax reform continues moving forward
Update on Treasury personnel
President Trump issues EO for Commerce Department
In the States: State budgets remain in flux, NYC arts funding plan to promote diversity…
New Report Finds Little Change in Proportions of Women and Minorities on Foundation Staffs
Despite concerted efforts by the field to advance more diverse, inclusive, and equitable recruitment and retention practices, the proportions of women and racial/ethnic minorities on foundation staff and at the most senior levels of leadership has changed very little over the past five and 10 years…
The State of Change: An Analysis of Women and People of Color in the Philanthropic Sector
Publication, Research
The Council’s report, The State of Change: An Analysis of Women and People of Color in the Philanthropic Sector, examines the demographics of the philanthropic sector, looking back over the last five and ten years, with a specific focus on the representation of women and people of color. The data…
Important Tax Reform Update
We wanted to share this important breaking news on the status of tax reform legislation. As you know, in Washington, D.C., things can change quickly. Just last week, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady said that the tax reform framework document should be done in early September.…
Have Bold Ideas & Dare to Do Them
Award Nominations
The Council is currently accepting nominations for the 2017 Robert W. Scrivner Award for Creative Grantmaking. Nominate a courageous leader and innovative grantmaker today.
Learn More
The Robert W. Scrivner Award for Creative Grantmaking honors grantmakers who, with a…
Global Philanthropy Update - July 2017
For the last three years, I’ve noticed a growing trend in community foundations asking for support to make international grants, often from donor or corporate advised funds. We’ve never had data on how many community foundations are making global grants, which is why I’m delighted to share that…
Washington Snapshot - July 20, 2017
In This Week's Edition of Snapshot…
Council submits tax reform comments to Senate Finance Committee
Tax Reform Update: House committee approves budget, takes first legislative step towards tax reform
Senate Finance Committee to consider Mr. Kautter’s nomination today
In the States: Michigan…
Navigating the 2018 Federal Budget Landscape
Memebers Access the Recording & Slides
Many of the Executive actions and fiscal visions of the Trump Administration have surfaced complicated and layered public policy issues, putting a variety of "hot issues" in the forefront of the public discourse and Congressional deliberations.…
2017 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Survey
For more than 30 years, the Council's Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Survey has provided the sector with the most comprehensive data on grantmaker staff composition and compensation in the U.S. at community, private (family and independent), and public foundations, as well as other staffed…
National Foundation Study Shows Improved 2016 Investment Returns; Spending Rate Steady to Higher
Data gathered in the 2016 Council on Foundations–Commonfund Study of Investment of Endowments for Private and Community Foundations® (CCSF) show that participating private foundations reported an average return of 6.4 percent for the 2016 fiscal year (January 1 – December 31, 2016) while…
Washington Snapshot - July 13, 2017
In This Week's Edition of Snapshot…
Tax Reform Update: Health care debate slows other legislative action, but Congress is still ramping up for tax reform
House Appropriations Committee to consider Johnson Amendment provision in a bill markup today
Senate Finance to hold confirmation hearing for…
2017 CEO & Trustee Retreat
The Council on Foundations hosted its second annual CEO & Trustee Retreat, in partnership with BoardSource. This dynamic learning event took place December 5-6, 2017 in Miami, Florida. The CEO & Trustee Retreat was designed to help energize foundation executives through leadership…
Global Philanthropy Update — June 2017
The Council’s Global Team is excited to welcome a new addition! Nicolette Gerald is a graduate of George Mason University with a bachelor’s degree in government and international politics. She will be spending the next two months with us as a summer intern before beginning her graduate studies in…