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.
Addressing Generational Poverty at the ZIP Code Level
In this session, attendees will learn why and how one funder decided to address generational poverty at the ZIP code level to reduce human suffering and improve health outcomes. Presenters will cover how to identify the right lead organization and the right leaders in the community and how to…
Working Together in Times of Disaster: 2020 to Present
This session will showcase lessons learned in disaster response from the 2020 global pandemic to the 2024 hurricanes that devastated Florida’s Gulf Coast. A collective effort from every department rooted in trust, clarity, and alignment is essential in deploying life sustaining support, as quickly…
Activating Community Leadership Through the Lens of Indigenous Philanthropy
Many philanthropic organizations struggle to build and maintain authentic community relationships, stifling the work they hope to support. Conventional practices and transactional interactions can hinder genuine connection and lasting impact. This session invites you to learn how Indigenous…
A Place-Based Approach to Advancing Economic Mobility
Join CFLeads to learn about community foundations that are leading economic mobility work in their communities. Hear about how these community foundations have navigated the complex social, economic, and political issues that have affected economic mobility in their cities and…
April 2025 Congressional Recess Packet
Meeting with members of Congress and their team during district work periods are an important time to share more about your foundation’s work and how partnerships with local, charitable organizations to meet community needs. These resources will help you prepare for meetings during this year's…
Self-Defense Lobbying Rules for Public Charities
Legal Compliance Guidance
Community Foundations and other public charities may engage in an insubstantial amount of lobbying as part of normal operations. But what are the rules around engaging in self-defense?
Internal Revenue Code Section 4911(d)(2)(C) provides public charities with an exception to the…
Washington Snapshot: Maintaining the Momentum
In this edition of Washington Snapshot we share how members can continue to build momentum following Foundations on the Hill, as well as everything we continue to track in DC.
Learning Across Differences Ideas Forum - The Connection Opportunity
On April 23rd, 2025 The Council on Foundations started a new series called, "Learning Across Differences Ideas Forum". Watch this inaugural session with speakers from More in Common, and the Walmart Foundation for an in-depth discussion of new More in Common research entitled The…
Court Cases We Are Monitoring
Legal Compliance Guidance
Overview
The Council is committed to helping our members stay informed about litigation that may have an impact on the philanthropic sector. This resource is designed to be a guide to cases that could impact the operations of foundations and other grantmaking organizations. For a more…
Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Report: Administrative Expense Tables
The Grantmaker Salary and Benefits (GSB) Administrative and Program Expense Tables provide your foundation the data you need to benchmark your organization's administrative, program, service, and qualifying distribution expenses against peers in the field. Containing data collected through the…
2025 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Survey (GSB)
Since 1980, the Council's Grantmaker Salary and Benefits (GSB) Survey has provided the sector with the most comprehensive data on staff composition and compensation in the United States. Grantmakers rely on this annual report to plan budgets, benchmark personnel policies and practices, determine…
Washington Snapshot: What We're Tracking This Week
In this edition of Washington Snapshot, we are tracking new legislation from Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) and Rep. Lance Gooden (R-TX) as well as continued federal cuts and the ongoing budget reconciliation debate.
Learning Across Differences Ideas Forum - Understanding Polarization
Philanthropy has a unique opportunity to fund, support, and protect civil society institutions that contribute to building an inclusive democracy where everyone belongs. But, as funders, our ability to do so can be hampered by the pernicious divides that threaten to tear our society apart. Against…
Protecting Philanthropy - Latest Updates
Our commitment to serving you in Washington has never been more important, but we can’t do it alone. We all must be united in our commitment to an independent charitable sector that ensures we can all give according to our values.
Our Government Affairs and Legal Resources team is keeping an eye…
Washington Snapshot: Updated Policy Resources
In this edition of Washington Snapshot we invite members to join us for Foundations on the Hill and share our updated policy resources hub on the Council website. We also continue to monitor the President’s executive actions and their potential impact on the philanthropic sector.
Building Together 2026
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