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.
HUD Deputy Secretary Shares Department's Efforts in Building Communities
United States Deputy Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Nani A. Coloretti addressed the annual conference Sunday to describe the federal government’s multi-pronged effort to support American communities and how HUD has developed new strategies in meeting the challenges of today’s population…
Forging a New Frontier for the Lakota of Pine Ridge
Executive Director of Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation Nick Tilsen described the struggle of America’s indigenous people both through history and through today’s world. Tilsen remarked how during both periods in history, differing views of the world adversely affected his indigenous…
Research Reinforces Importance of Community, Upbringing for Revered Historian McCullough
Keynote Speaker David McCullough imparted the wisdom attained by a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning author and noted historian as it pertained to the conference’s themes of identity, purpose and place Sunday. McCullough weaved snippets of some of his meticulously researched historical subjects and…
Council on Foundations President Focuses on the Future of Community
In a special video created for conference attendees, Born This Way Foundation CEO Cynthia Germanotta stated the simple goal: “Support young people and empower them to create a kinder and braver world” for young people “are not only tomorrow’s leaders, but they are leading in tremendous ways today,…
A Common Vision for Improving the Future of Community
Wow! Thank you Cynthia Germanotta, her daughter Lady Gaga, and the Born This Way Foundation for working with us to create that awesome video. I can’t think of a better way to start us off than with a reminder of why we do this work. All of us here are, in some way, working to build a…
We Can Always Do a Little Bit Better
James E. “Jim” Casey coined the phrase “constructive dissatisfaction” while steering United Parcel Service (now UPS) to becoming one of the world’s most successful companies. His dissatisfaction drove him to outpace the competition as he developed innovative transportation strategies, implemented…
Leveraging Technology to Empower Voters in Myanmar
Myanmar’s Tech Community Codes as Part of the MaePaySoh Hack Challenge -- Photo by Andrew Thornley
On November 8, 2015, millions in Myanmar went to the polls to cast their votes – many for the first or second time in their lives – for members of the Union Parliament as well as for the 14…
Washington Snapshot - April 8, 2016
News from the Hill
Charity Bill Introduced in Senate
The Council is pleased to announce that this week, Senators John Thune (R-SD) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) introduced the Charities Helping Americans Regularly Throughout the Year Act (S.2750).
This bill would:
Express the sense of the Senate that…
Washington Snapshot - April 1, 2016
News from the Hill
House Tax Policy Subcommittee to Hold Next Tax Reform Hearing
Chairman of the House Ways and Means Tax Policy Subcommittee Charles Boustany (R-LA) announced this week that the series of hearings on tax reform will continue, with the next hearing scheduled for Wednesday, April…
Council Comments on Multistate Registration & Filing Project
The Council submitted a letter on March 31, 2016 in response to a request for information (RFI) issued in February by the Multistate Registration and Filing Project (MRFP)—an organization that works with the National Association of State Charity Officials (NASCO) and the National Association of…
A Guide to Advocacy, Lobbying & Election Related Activity: Navigating the Rules
Legal Compliance Guidance, Publication
A Chapter in Mastering Foundation Law:
The Council on Foundations Compendium of Legal Resources
The purpose of this chapter is to help you understand the federal tax laws and regulations that govern how, when, and to what extent different types of foundations can engage with policymakers, their…
Expenditure Responsibility: Step by Step
Legal Compliance Guidance, Publication
A Chapter in Mastering Foundation Law:
The Council on Foundations Compendium of Legal Resources
Expenditure responsibility is the federally mandated procedure that a private foundation—and some public charities—must follow for any grant made to an organization that is not a public charity.
This…
How Data Standards Can Help Save the World
Modern life is full of data—a lot of data. Sometimes it feels simply overwhelming. And that’s especially true in the philanthropic sector. It can feel like our work is simply an endless string of profiles, templates, accounts, applications, and reports. If we aren’t thoughtful about it…
2016 Endowments and Finance Summit
Why Attend the Summit?
As a summit participant, you can expect a robust learning experience where you will:
Engage in discussions about effective solutions to current foundation financial management challenges;
Hear from industry experts on key trends in foundation management, the economy,…
Washington Snapshot - March 18, 2016
News from the Hill
Hearing on Tax Reform Proposals Set for Next Week
Chairman of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Tax Policy, Charles Boustany (R-LA) announced the first in what will be a series of hearings on potential approaches and proposals for tax reform.
The hearing is scheduled for…
Washington Snapshot - March 11, 2016
News from the Hill
Chairman of House Veterans' Affairs Committee to Retire from Congress
Representative Jeff Miller (R-FL-1) announced this week that he will not seek re-election at the expiration of his current term in office. First elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2001, Miller…