Led by the Council on Foundations Legal Team, this workshop is flexibly organized to ensure that your broad legal questions for administering funds, grants, and community foundation activities are addressed. The legal team will provide technical and practical understanding of complex rules and regulations.
Throughout the workshop, sessions will be curated by
With each session, there will be time for questions and a deep exploration of the answers. This workshop is open to any board or staff member from any community foundation that is eager to dive into the legalities of our business model and unlock the truth to effective management and leadership of a community foundation.
(2 Day Virtual Series)
Specific topics will be defined in advance of the workshop as attendees begin to submit ideas, pressing issues, and assist with the defining of sessions. This event is designed to be time sensitive and relevant to current issues. The format will be discussion-oriented, question and answer-based learning alongside peer sharing.
Rebuilding trust in institutions, including philanthropy, starts with a hard look at the words we use and the stories we tell.
Positive change doesn’t always come easily, especially in times of division and mistrust. It often requires action from a broad coalition of people and groups who sometimes disagree. The magic happens at the intersections where we can build common ground.
Executive leaders are key actors in advancing the field to be more diverse, ethical, equitable and effective. Our community of executive leaders will support you to grow personally and professionally.
When foundations invest directly in countries and communities around the world, we achieve more equitable and sustained outcomes in direct partnership with local communities and civil society.
The SDGs provide a framework for foundations to lead together with governments, civil society, and the private sector to create a better world, in the US and around the globe.
Hate-related violence has been on the rise for several years in the U.S., as have extremist groups whose work targets specific communities based on race, ethnicity, and other characteristics. Our members are actively engaged in finding ways to make sure that their values of fairness and equity are reflected in their funding practices.
Whether the program started last year or 75 years ago, these endeavors are ongoing offerings.
Service to foundations is in our DNA. While we may have started with community foundations, we've grown throughout our history to serve foundations and institutional givers of all kinds.
The Council community includes public grantmaking charities that play an important bridging role in serving both individual and institutional donors. Recognizing their unique needs, activities across the Council provide the resources, opportunities, and advice that grantmaking charities need to build trusted partnerships and expand philanthropy’s opportunities to thrive.
Gain access to our online member directory, where you can connect with peers, attend in-person Council events, and join our online networking platform, the Philanthropy Exchange.
Take advantage of member-exclusive discounts on trainings and capacity-building programs to deepen your learning, including conferences, summits, in-person workshops, and webinars.
Our extensive legal library contains many helpful resources that are relevant to public grantmaking charities of all shapes and sizes.
The Council often convenes members in working groups, task forces, and committees to help inform our work and ensure that it reflects sector needs. Recent opportunities for involvement include:
Reach out to the Engagement Team to explore ways you can volunteer your expertise.
Work with our Government Affairs team to build your capacity to advocate on behalf of nonprofits and your community and inform the Council's public policy agenda.
Remain up to date on the challenges and opportunities shaping philanthropy and share stories about your organization's impact through exclusive communications, including our members-only e-newsletters.
The Council has served private philanthropy since 1964, including both family and independent foundations. As a national community of grantmakers, the Council is proud to offer a variety of services and opportunities for private foundations that reflect the diversity of the field. From advocacy and policy courses to guidance on global grantmaking and peer spaces for CEOs of private foundations, the Council helps private philanthropy further their missions and become more trusted partners.
Gain access to our online member directory where you can connect with peers, attend in-person Council events, and join our online platform, the Philanthropy Exchange.
For Executives:
For Investments and Finance Staff:
For Programs and Global Staff:
For Legal and Policy Staff:
For Communications and HR Staff:
Take advantage of member-exclusive discounts on trainings and capacity-building programs to deepen your learning, including conferences, summits, in-person workshops, and webinars.
Boost your understanding of sector-specific legal issues and access our regularly updated Legal Compendium and Legal Resources team to stay in the know on legal matters impacting the sector.
The Council often convenes members in working groups, task forces and committees to help inform and shape our work. Recent opportunities include:
Reach out to the Engagement Team to explore ways you can volunteer your expertise.
Work with our Government Affairs team to build your capacity to advocate on behalf of nonprofits and your community and inform the Council's public policy agenda.
Simplifying the Private Foundation Excise Tax – For decades, the Council has advocated for a simplified version of the excise tax. In December 2019, the private foundation excise tax was modified from the historical two-tiered system to a flat rate of 1.39%. when H.R. 1865 (116th Congress) passed on December 20 and took effect upon President’s signature.
Reach out to our Government Affairs team to learn more to learn more.
Remain up to date on the challenges and opportunities shaping philanthropy and share stories about your organization's impact through exclusive communications, including our members-only e-newsletters.
Grantmaker Salary And Benefits Survey (GSB) - Since 1980, the Council's Grantmaker Salary and Benefits 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 salary levels for new and existing staff, and more.
Council On Foundations & Commonfund Study Of Investment Of Endowments For Private And Community Foundations (CCSF) Report - The CCSF report is the field’s most comprehensive and authoritative study on investment and governance policies and practices. The 2020 CCSF studies 260 private and community foundations, representing $115.4 billion in assets. Topics covered include:
Receive personalized support from Council staff on issues ranging from fundamentals of operating a foundation to global grantmaking, as well as access to our members-only grantmaking resources center on cof.org.
The Executive Network of Midsize Foundations is a member-only peer group for CEOs, Presidents, and Executive Directors at family, independent, operating, and other private grantmakers with less than 20 staff members.
This network is designed to connect you with your peer foundation leaders across the country to build meaningful relationships and provide a consistent opportunity for you to engage in collaborative troubleshooting in a trusted environment.
The Council has served corporate philanthropy since 1964. As a national steward of corporate philanthropy over the years, we have fostered networks of grantmakers, produced strategic resources, shared promising practices, and championed the social impact of companies throughout the philanthropic sector. The Council believes corporations can and do serve as active partners with government and civil society in finding new ways to address the profound social and environmental challenges we face.
Convene and engage with grantmakers across the philanthropic sector and your corporate grantmaking peers.
Deepen your knowledge of philanthropy and grow your career through trainings and cohorts.
Learn compliance standards, governance, and tax regulations from our Legal Team.
The Council often convenes members in working groups, task forces, and committees to help inform and shape our work. Recent opportunities include:
Reach out to the Engagement Team to explore ways you can volunteer your expertise.
Research, best practices, stewardship principles, and other curated content to increase your impact and efficiency.
Sign up to get our Corporate Philanthropy updates and newsletters.
Created by community foundations over 70 years ago, the Council on Foundations remains the largest network of community foundations in the country. We are proud to continue to provide a wide range of services and support to further the missions of community foundations of all shapes and sizes.
Community Foundation leaders, staff, board members, and others wanting to learn more can exchange ideas, perspectives, and information about the issues that matter most to them – and to the philanthropic sector as a whole – on the Philanthropy Exchange.
Learn compliance standards, governance and tax regulations from our Legal Team.
The Council often convenes members in working groups, task forces and committees to help inform and shape our work. Recent opportunities include:
Reach out to the Engagement Team to explore ways you can volunteer your expertise.
The idea behind CF Insights is simple: What if each community foundation can know what all community foundations collectively know? CF Insights was created to help community foundations leverage peer data to inform their strategy.
Council members who add Plus Membership gain unlimited access to the CF Insights benchmarking tool, customized dashboards, and 1-on-1 assistance to ensure you get the most out of the data.
All Community Foundations are invited to participate in the CF Insights annual survey and access its results. See our library of FREE publications and toolkits to provide in-depth analysis of your community foundation’s overall sustainability and ability to cover operating costs through fees.
Since 1980, the Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Report (GSB) 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 inform budgeting, talent recruitment and retention strategies, and personnel policies and practices.
Foundations who participate in the annual GSB survey receive access to benchmarking for salary and benefits. All Council members and organizations who participate in the survey receive FREE access to the annual report of the results. Non-members can purchase the report.
The annual CCSF report is the field’s most comprehensive and authoritative study on investment and governance policies and practices. Topics covered include:
Council members can access the report for FREE and non-members can request a copy through Commonfund.
Work with our Government Affairs team to build your capacity to advocate on behalf of nonprofits and your community and inform the Council's public policy agenda.
In 2021, the Council convened the Strengthening Community Philanthropy Ad Hoc Working Group to develop a set of principles and proposals to share with lawmakers and the field that would strengthen community foundations and DAFs.
We continue to highlight the enthusiasm of the majority of community foundations to voluntarily institute strict operating policies and preserve the highest degree of integrity and excellence by engaging in peer-regulation through the National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations® program.
Remain up to date on the challenges and opportunities shaping philanthropy and share stories about your organization's impact through exclusive communications, including our members-only e-newsletters.
The National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations® (National Standards) is an accreditation program created by community foundations for community foundations. They are peer-driven, voluntary, and self-regulatory.
Created by community foundations over 70 years ago, the Council on Foundations remains the largest network of community foundations in the country. We are proud to continue to provide a wide range of services and support to further the missions of community foundations of all shapes and sizes.
The Council has served corporate philanthropy since 1964. As a national steward of corporate philanthropy over the years, we have fostered networks of grantmakers, produced strategic resources, shared promising practices, and championed the social impact of companies throughout the philanthropic sector.
The Council has served private philanthropy since 1964, including both family and independent foundations. As a national community of grantmakers, the Council is proud to offer a variety of services and opportunities for private foundations that reflect the diversity of the field.
The Council community includes public grantmaking charities that play an important bridging role in serving both individual and institutional donors. Recognizing their unique needs, activities across the Council provide the resources, opportunities, and advice that grantmaking charities need to build trusted partnerships and expand philanthropy’s opportunities to thrive.
Whether the program started last year or 75 years ago, these endeavors are ongoing offerings.
Council initiatives are short-term or timebound activities that help advance our mission, vision, and strategic direction.
A leadership program that accelerates the careers of diverse professionals in the philanthropy sector. Graduates of the program will deepen their expertise, expand their networks, and hone their leadership skills to advance the field.
The Council's award programs were established to recognize excellence in philanthropy and honor exemplary leaders for their dedication in uplifting the sector.
The Council is actively working to build connections among U.S. and global foundations that are addressing problems and advancing change around the world.
Developed in the spirit of accountability, transparency, and continuous self-improvement, National Standards for U.S. Community Foundation are philanthropy's most rigorous standards—evidence that community foundations seek excellence for their communities and donors.
Service to foundations is in our DNA. While we may have started with community foundations, we've grown throughout our history to serve foundations and institutional givers of all kinds.
Council initiatives are short-term or timebound activities that help advance our mission, vision, and strategic direction.
David Cicilline
President and CEO
Rhode Island Foundation
Michelle Asha Cooper
Vice President for Public Policy
Lumina Foundation
Regina Bell
Chief Policy Officer
Council of Michigan Foundations
Rakim Brooks
Senior Vice President and General Counsel
Freedom Together Foundation
Andrew Dunckelman
Deputy Director, Philanthropic Partnerships
Gates Foundation
Sally Ehrenfried
Principal, Government Relations
Blackbaud, Inc.
Seyron Foo
Senior Program Officer, Homelessness
Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
Joshua Gibb
President and CEO
Galesburg Community Foundation
Danielle Goonan
Vice President, U.S. Economic Opportunity
The Rockefeller Foundation
Dan Kildee
President and CEO
Community Foundation of Greater Flint
Dr. Janet Lopez
Senior Director of Policy, Partnerships & Learning
The Denver Foundation
Geraldine Mannion
Director, Strengthening Democracy Program and Special Opportunities Fund
Carnegie Corporation of New York
Gil Nusbaum
Chief Administrative and Legal Officer
National Philanthropic Trust
Isaiah M. Oliver
President and CEO
The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida
Shelly O'Quinn
President & CEO
Innovia
Mason Rummel
President & CEO
James Graham Brown Foundation
Lauren Supina
Senior Director
The Pew Charitable Trusts
Joseph Villela
Director of Government Affairs
California Wellness Foundation
Ridgeway White
President and CEO
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
