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.
5 Things You Should Know About the Philanthropy Exchange
When we face a new challenge, one of our first instincts is to reach out to someone for advice. By collaborating, sharing resources, and discussing common challenges, you and your peers multiply your impact and advance the common good.
Now the Council on Foundations is offering you a new way to…
Mission investing and lessons learned
Many community foundations are recognizing that impact investing can be a powerful tool in our philanthropic toolbox. Mission investments are investments made by foundations to further their philanthropic goals. Since 2009, the Seattle Foundation has committed $4 million of its unrestricted…
5 Things Your Foundation Should Know About the Future of Impact Investing
At the White House last week, foundation executives, including the Council’s President and CEO Vikki Spruill, met with senior Administration officials for a roundtable on the future of impact investing. A complement to charitable giving and foundation grantmaking, impact investing offers a powerful…
Washington Snapshot - June 27, 2014
We want to remind our readers that we will not be publishing Snapshot next week, in light of the Fourth of July holiday. We wish you all a happy Fourth!
News from the Hill
Republican Lawmakers Slam IRS Over Lost E-mails
We told you last week about the fury on Capitol Hill over thousands of e-mails…
Lending a Hand: Southwest Initiative Foundation taps unique micro-financing program to help local entrepreneurs and businesses
Lessons Learned
The Southwest Initiative Foundation got interested in becoming a Kiva loan administrator after a staff member learned about the program at a conference. Now two years into the program, Greg Jodzio, Microenterprise specialist at SWIF, offered up some insight into how to get the…
Why we depend on our peers to do our jobs better
When Jessica David was wondering how to support her new hire, who was tasked with telling her foundation’s story online, she turned to her peers for advice.
Jessica, the Vice President of Strategy and Community Investments of the Rhode Island Foundation, posted a question to the Council’s new…
Getting more out of your ideas with authentic partnerships
With partnerships being very important in making the most of innovative ideas, how does one develop an authentic partnership? In a recent situation, I developed a partnership with several individuals to implement an idea at a large conference. Here are the lessons I learned:
I. Make sure that the…
Washington Snapshot - June 20, 2014
News from the Hill
Senate Tax Reform Hearings
As we told you last week, Senate Finance Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Ranking Member Orrin Hatch (R-UT) have announced three hearings on tax reform that will take place this summer. Chairman Wyden also stated this week that he hopes that comprehensive…
In the 60s They Changed the World; In Their 60s they Did It Again.
How can we engage older residents while tapping their expertise? In 2006, The New York Community Trust responded to an invitation from Atlantic Philanthropies offering challenge to get people over 60 involved as they improve life for everyone in their communities. Atlantic’s effort, called the…
Using data and evaluation to support, not punish grantees
At the Council on Foundations Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., some funders were expressing a move toward a new way of doing business with their grantees. Accountability has long been a theme in grantmaking. It has traditionally been top-down – foundations being held accountable to the people…
Washington Snapshot - June 13, 2014
We loved seeing so many of our readers and Council members at our 2014 Annual Conference: Philanthropy Exchange this week! We hope you enjoyed your time in D.C., connected with colleagues old and new, and learned as much as we did.
Community Foundation Survey
Last week, your community foundation…
CFGRB builds the next generation of philanthropists
This post is part of the #CF100 Series of blog posts. The Council on Foundations is marking the 100th anniversary of the nation’s first community foundation, The Cleveland Foundation, by highlighting the roles of community foundations with this series.
Think back to high school. Senior year,…
Doing Right By Veterans On Memorial Day And Beyond
The following piece originally appeared on Forbes.com. It is written by Brad Phillips of the Institute for Evidence Based Change, a Lumina Foundation grantee.
The largest influx of veterans since the end of World War II will return to the workforce and college in the next several years. The surge…
A Minnesota Yankee in King Arthur’s Court? Questions on Regional Cultures and Philanthropy
During the 2014 Annual Conference - Philanthropy Exchange - we will be posting blogs written by speakers and attendees. If you are interested in blogging with the Council, contact john.cochrane@cof.org.
Can you be part of Yankeedom if you live in Minnesota? Have you ever been to “New France?” Are…
Vikki Spruill Remarks on the State of American Philanthropy
Thank you, Good afternoon. I think we all have a thing or two to learn from amazing students like these.
I’m grateful to Gwen and the News Literacy Project for an enlightening discussion and for joining us here today. And, thanks to all of you for joining us at the 2014 Annual Conference…
Washington Snapshot - June 6, 2014
Community Foundation Survey
Last week, your community foundation may have received a survey on donor advised funds (DAFs) from Elizabeth Boris of the Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy at The Urban Institute. As the Council and our colleagues address critical issues of concern to community…