This event is the Council's annual retreat for early-tenure private foundation, corporate foundation and giving program chief executives who want to step away from the challenges of their day-to-day and find renewed energy and motivation in fellowship with other new CEOs.   

Hosted by Tiffany Benjamin, CEO of the Humana Foundation, the retreat will take place in-person in Louisville, KY, from noon on June 8 until 2pm ET on June 9, 2026. 

This event is intended for executive leaders (CEOs, Presidents, Executive Directors) of private foundations, corporate foundations, and giving programs who have been in their current executive role for three years or less.

Please contact Mimi Beringer for registration.

Over the two consecutive half-day sessions, attendees will delve into both the practical and existential issues facing foundation executives new to their role, such as navigating change, transforming operations, and building institutions for the future. Through peer support and coaching we will also explore the collective wisdom of our fellow leaders, and equip participants with an expanded network, fresh ideas, and new motivation.     

 Retreat objectives:  

• Raise and discuss key challenges for early-tenure foundation executives;
• Provide peer coaching on top-of-mind leadership challenges;
• Build peer relationships and exchange tips/resources. 

Past retreat attendees have told us how valuable it is to have this time to step away:

“Thank you so much for organizing such a fantastic retreat. It was a wonderful opportunity to connect with fellow leaders and learn from each other. The peer coaching sessions were invaluable, and I feel inspired and motivated to implement new strategies in my own organization.”

Building Together isn’t your typical conference — it’s a hands-on experience to help leaders at all levels build relationships and skills to connect and collaborate across difference. During the conference, you will learn, process, and practice in real time while developing the heartset, mindset, and skillset needed to build relationships across lines of difference.

You may have never experienced an event like Building Together before. That's why we're hosting this space to give an overview of what you can expect during the three days and answer any questions you may have.

Join us for a conversation to learn more about applying to and participating in the 2026-27 Career Pathways Program. 

During this session we will answer questions regarding:

• 2026-27 program schedule
• Curriculum
• Application Process
• Waldman Scholarship
• Program benefits, outcomes, and much more! 

Details to Note

• Come prepared with questions for the Q&A
• This session will NOT be recorded
• Applications for the Career Pathways 2026 are due March 2, 2026.

For more information about Career Pathways leadership development program, visit cof.org/careerpathways or email Careerpathways@cof.org.

Join us for a conversation to learn more about applying to and participating in the 2026-27 Career Pathways Program. 

During this session we will answer questions regarding:

• 2026-27 program schedule
• Curriculum
• Application Process
• Waldman Scholarship
• Program benefits, outcomes, and much more! 

Details to Note

• Come prepared with questions for the Q&A
• This session will NOT be recorded
• Applications for the Career Pathways 2026 are due March 2, 2026.

For more information about Career Pathways leadership development program, visit cof.org/careerpathways or email Careerpathways@cof.org.

Join the Council’s Legal Resources team for an in-depth look at the self-dealing rules applicable to private foundations under section 4941 of the Internal Revenue Code. This workshop will provide an in-depth review of the rules against self-dealing, where they come from and what they involve. Participants will hear an analysis of the relevant rules and regulations governing transactions between private foundations and disqualified persons, including situations involving payment of compensation and expense reimbursement to disqualified persons, sharing employees between foundations and related companies, grants with the potential to benefit disqualified persons, and more.

Topics Include:

• A technical definition of “disqualified person”
• The law of self-dealing under IRC § 4941
• Payment and allocation of shared expenses
• Expenditures that provide impermissible benefits to the sponsoring company
• Expenditures that provide permissible, incidental and tenuous benefits to the sponsoring company

This workshop will provide an in-depth review of the rules against self-dealing, where they come from and what they involve. Participants will hear an analysis of the relevant rules and regulations governing transactions between private foundations and disqualified persons, including situations involving payment of compensation and expense reimbursement to disqualified persons, sharing employees between foundations and related companies, grants with the potential to benefit disqualified persons, and more.

Topics Include:

• A technical definition of “disqualified person”
• The law of self-dealing under IRC § 4941
• Payment and allocation of shared expenses
• Expenditures that provide impermissible benefits to the sponsoring company
• Expenditures that provide permissible, incidental and tenuous benefits to the sponsoring company

As scholarship professionals, it can be challenging to navigate the world of complex financial aid systems and policies. The challenges increase when a student’s scholarship unintentionally reduces the amount of financial aid they receive from their college or university, resulting in a net-zero for the student; also called financial aid displacement.  
Join your peers for an engaging discussion on how you can better align practices to maximize support for students. We will share examples and exchange ideas to help ensure scholarships truly make a difference.  Bring your questions, insights, and curiosity as we explore:  

• What is financial aid displacement?  
• How does it impact students and families?  
• What are some solutions and practices to address scholarship displacement, without adding extra workload for administrators? 

After the session, stick around for an informal coffee chat (1:00-2:00 pm Eastern) to keep the conversation going and connect more personally with your community of scholarship professionals.

In 2026, we are launching a new virtual book club! We will be reading and discussing “Understanding the Phenomenon: A Qualitative Investigation of the McConnell Scholars Program.” Please reach out to Melissa Nolan (Engagement@cof.org) if you are interested in attending! 
 

Led by Council on Foundations staff and philanthropic leaders, this training will address policy advocacy strategies that support racial equity and effective practices. Participants will gain helpful tools and resources while networking with peers who are developing and implementing their foundation’s advocacy strategy.

Training Hours

• Tuesday, September 15: 1:00-5:00 p.m. ET
• Thursday, September 17: 1:00-5:00 pm ET

Participants will explore the following during the course:

The Big Picture

• Why engaging in policy advocacy is essential for foundations to achieve their goals
• A refresher on legal rules governing grantmaker funding and actions
• Inside the Foundation: Understanding staff roles and how to build internal support

Building understanding and support across the foundation for policy advocacy engagement

• How different staff roles across the foundation can support advocacy
• Characteristics of grantmaking that support effective policy advocacy
• Outside the Foundation: Working with others to advance policy 

Using all a foundation’s assets to advance policy

• Funding vehicles that support effective policy advocacy
• Building an effective relationship with nonprofit partners and grantees to advance advocacy
• Appropriate evaluations of partner contributions
• Real-life Challenges and Action Planning

Who Should Attend

• Private foundation staff with a basic understanding of policy work.
• Foundation staff of all experience levels that incorporate policy advocacy into their work - such as those in leadership, communications, grants management or strategic planning.

Please note, this course is limited to foundation staff and Board members only.

Group Rate

Trainings are designed to be taken individually at a personal workstation, not in a group setting. Registration rates are per person. Group rates are for Council Members that send 5-7 people from one organization, each person must be registered individually to attend. Email educate@cof.org to register a group. 

Cancellation Policy 

All registration cancellations must be submitted in writing to educate@cof.org. All cancellation refunds before August 15, 2026 will incur a 25% administrative fee per registration. No refunds will be provided after August 15, 2026.

Led by Council on Foundations staff and philanthropic leaders, this training will address policy advocacy strategies that support racial equity and effective practices. Participants will gain helpful tools and resources while networking with peers who are developing and implementing their foundation’s advocacy strategy.

Training Hours

• Tuesday, April 21: 1:00-5:00 p.m. ET
• Thursday, April 23: 1:00-5:00 pm ET

Participants will explore the following during the course:

The Big Picture

• Why engaging in policy advocacy is essential for foundations to achieve their goals
• A refresher on legal rules governing grantmaker funding and actions
• Inside the Foundation: Understanding staff roles and how to build internal support

Building understanding and support across the foundation for policy advocacy engagement

• How different staff roles across the foundation can support advocacy
• Characteristics of grantmaking that support effective policy advocacy
• Outside the Foundation: Working with others to advance policy 

Using all a foundation’s assets to advance policy

• Funding vehicles that support effective policy advocacy
• Building an effective relationship with nonprofit partners and grantees to advance advocacy
• Appropriate evaluations of partner contributions
• Real-life Challenges and Action Planning

Who Should Attend

• Private foundation staff with a basic understanding of policy work.
• Foundation staff of all experience levels that incorporate policy advocacy into their work - such as those in leadership, communications, grants management or strategic planning.

Please note, this course is limited to foundation staff and Board members only.

Group Rate

Trainings are designed to be taken individually at a personal workstation, not in a group setting. Registration rates are per person. Group rates are for Council Members that send 5-7 people from one organization, each person must be registered individually to attend. Email educate@cof.org to register a group. 

Cancellation Policy 

All registration cancellations must be submitted in writing to educate@cof.org. All cancellation refunds before March 21, 2026 will incur a 25% administrative fee per registration. No refunds will be provided after March 21, 2026