Corporate Grantmakers

This community is designed to build a network for and support staff of corporate giving programs and foundations. This community is only open to corporate foundation members

Community Foundation Executives

Foundation executives have a unique set of responsibilities. This is a space for community foundation leaders to share ideas, resources, and leadership opportunities with their peers. This community is open to CEOs and Executive Directors at all community foundations, regardless of Council membership status.

Donor Services

Ask questions, provide feedback, and share resources with community foundation donor service professionals on ways to support donors, explore gift options, and keep donors engaged. This community is designed for community foundation staff who are philanthropic advisors or involved in donor stewardship. This discussion community is led by the following peer discussion leads: LaDawn Sullivan, Catherine Cooney, Karen Brown, and Pauline Martinson.

Private Foundation Executives

This is a space for private foundation leaders to share ideas, resources, and leadership opportunities with their peers. This community is open to CEOs and Executive Directors at all Private Foundations

Other Communities

Open Exchange

Contribute, connect, and learn in this member community designed for staff from all foundation types. This is the best place to get valuable perspectives from a broad range of audiences

Role-Focused Peer Communities

Connect with sector peers around the globe in roles similar to yours. Search an online library of +1,700 peer-created best practices and template documents

Peer Learning Circles

Join a Peer Learning Circle to engage with a learning cohort of members interested in similar issues, facing shared challenges, or piloting new activities together

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These communities focus on discussion topics that are role-specific. Council members can join any of the following from the "Communities" Tab after login. If you have any questions, please email us at membership@cof.org.

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Human Resources

Participate in peer-to-peer conversations with HR, Culture, and Talent leaders in philanthropy to discuss best practices and new ideas related to talent management, organizational culture, and other operational functions.

Finance & Admin

Learn from your peers about the complexities of financial management, fund accounting, gift acceptance, and fiscal operating practices. This community is designed for staff who serve in finance and administrative roles.

Policy & Advocacy

This community is designed for members interested in policy and advocacy. Share about federal and state advocacy efforts, promote helpful resources, and learn from peer philanthropic policy and government affairs staff.

Programs

As communities need change, it is essential for program professionals to have a space to ask questions, share concerns, and connect around programmatic strategy. This community is designed for staff who design and deliver programs, nonprofit services, grantmaking, and community impact.

Legal

This community is designed for legal counsel at all member organizations. Dive deeper into the unique legal and compliance issues facing philanthropic organizations.

Communications

Engage with other communications strategists and learn about valuable resources and tools to help share your foundation’s story and convey the meaningful impact of your work.

Scholarships

Learn and share scholarship policies, processes, and opportunities with peers, and see how scholarships can play an impactful role in giving.

Global Grantmaking

Discover resources and hear from peers on topics related to effective cross-border grantmaking.

Other Communities

Open Exchange

Contribute, connect, and learn in this member community designed for staff from all foundation types. This is the best place to get valuable perspectives from a broad range of audiences.

Foundation-Specific Peer Communities

Seek and give candid advice in a secure community conversation with peers from similar foundation types (like community foundations, private foundations, and corporate philanthropy).

Peer Learning Circles

Join a Peer Learning Circle to engage with a learning cohort of members interested in similar issues, facing shared challenges, or piloting new activities together.

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Contribute, connect, and learn from peers in this member community designated for staff from all foundation types. This is the best place to get valuable perspectives from a broad range of audiences.

Go to the Open Exchange

Other Communities

Role-Focused Peer Communities

Connect with sector peers around the globe in roles similar to yours. Search an online library of +1,700 peer-created best practices and template documents.

Foundation-Specific Peer Communities

Seek and give candid advice in a secure community conversation with peers from similar foundation types (like community foundations, private foundations, and corporate philanthropy).

Peer Learning Circles

Join a Peer Learning Circle to engage with a learning cohort of members interested in similar issues, facing shared challenges, or piloting new activities together.

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The Philanthropy Exchange is the Council’s online community platform which facilitates peer-to-peer connections. The Exchange hosts a variety of discussion communities and supports our Peer Learning Circles (PLCs). You can share knowledge, ask questions to more than 11,000 sector peers, and build your organization’s network on the Exchange.

Discussion content and resources on the Philanthropy Exchange platform are organized within “Communities.” These spaces support timely conversations and facilitate peer collaboration. To get started, learn about Philanthropy Exchange Basics and find your peer community.

The Philanthropy Exchange is a benefit open exclusively to Council members. If you have questions about the Philanthropy Exchange, please email us at membership@cof.org.

Go to the Exchange

Open Exchange

Contribute, connect, and learn in this member community designed for staff from all foundation types. This is the best place to get valuable perspectives from a broad range of audiences.

Role-Focused Peer Communities

Connect with sector peers around the globe in roles similar to yours. Search an online library of +1,700 peer-created best practices and template documents.

Foundation-Specific Peer Communities

Seek and give candid advice in a secure community conversation with peers from similar foundation types (like community foundations, private foundations, and corporate philanthropy).

Peer Learning Circles

Join a Peer Learning Circle to engage with a learning cohort of members interested in similar issues, facing shared challenges, or piloting new activities together.

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As a benefit of membership, voting members have access to the Council on Foundations’ attorneys and legal staff, who provide detailed information and education on a wide variety of topics related to foundation operations and legal compliance. The attorneys and staff of the Legal Resources team have experience in nonprofit and tax law and understand the unique legal and compliance issues facing private, corporate, and community foundations. Individual access to the Legal Resources team is available by telephone or email, and there is no limit to the number of times a member may access support from the team.

Note: all publications, articles, email correspondence and telephone consultations provided by Council attorneys and legal staff are intended for informational purposes only and not as part of an attorney-client relationship. Council attorneys are not licensed in every state and cannot provide legal representation.

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Legal Disclaimer

All information on this website, and all publications, articles, e-mail correspondence, and telephone consultations provided by Council attorneys and legal staff are intended for informational purposes only and not as part of an attorney-client relationship. Council attorneys are not licensed in every state and cannot provide legal representation. The information is not a substitute for expert legal, tax, or other professional advice tailored to your specific circumstances and may not be relied upon for the purpose of avoiding any penalties that may be imposed under the Internal Revenue Code. Council members may email legal@cof.org with inquiries and for more information.

Questions?

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Search Resources

Legal Disclaimer

All information on this website, and all publications, articles, email correspondence, and telephone consultations provided by Council attorneys and legal staff are intended for informational purposes only and not as part of an attorney-client relationship. Council attorneys are not licensed in every state and cannot provide legal representation. The information is not a substitute for expert legal, tax, or other professional advice tailored to your specific circumstances and may not be relied upon for the purpose of avoiding any penalties that may be imposed under the Internal Revenue Code. Council members may email legal@cof.org with inquiries and for more information.

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Upcoming Retreats

Past Retreats

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