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About Council Resources
As a benefit of membership, the Council on Foundations attorneys and legal staff provide information and education to Council members regarding a variety of topics related to foundation operations and legal compliance. 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 purposes of avoiding any penalties that may be imposed under the Internal Revenue Code. Council members may e-mail legal@cof.org with inquiries and for more information.
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Leadership Team
Executive Office
Membership, Development, and Finance
Public Policy, Legal Resources, and National Standards
Strategy, Learning, and Leadership
Communications, Marketing, and Content
Talent, Equity, and Operations
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Contact Info
Call us at 800-673-9036 or
202-991-2225
Email us at info@cof.org.
Council office hours are
Monday through Friday from
9 a.m.-5 p.m. ET.
Office Directions
1255 23rd Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20037
By metro, we are six blocks from the Dupont Circle Metro station on the Red Line or six blocks from the Foggy Bottom Metro station on the Blue, Orange, and Silver lines.
Public parking is available in the garage directly beneath our building. Enter the alley on the right side of the building and then the garage is on the left.
Membership
For more information about membership, contact a member of our Membership Operations Team at membership@cof.org or by phone at 202-991-7653 or 800-673-9036 for those outside the United States.
Are You a Journalist?
If you need:
- Facts/Data
- Background information on a philanthropy issue
- Information about U.S. philanthropy
- Comment from the Council on Foundations
Contact us at
communications@cof.org.
Office Closures
The Council offices will be closed for these 2026 dates:
New Year’s Day – Thursday, January 1
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – Monday, January 19
Presidents Day – Monday, February 16
Memorial Day – 1 p.m. closure on Friday, May 22 and all day on Monday, May 25
Juneteenth – Friday, June 19
Independence Day and Wellness Week – Monday, June 29 through Friday, July 3
Labor Day – 1 p.m. closure on Friday, September 4 and all day on Monday, September 7
Indigenous Peoples Day – Monday, October 12
Veterans Day – Wednesday, November 11
Thanksgiving Break – 1 p.m. closure on Wednesday, November 25 and all day on Thursday, November 26 and Friday, November 27
Christmas and Winter Intermission – Thursday, December 24 through Thursday, December 31
New Year’s Day – Friday, January 1, 2027
Meet the Council Team
Whether you need help from a specific team member or you’re just curious who’s on the other side of that email, find who you’re looking for with our Staff Directory.
Shared purpose. Collective voice. Greater impact.
Philanthropy is a trusted partner in advancing the greater good.
Membership Types
Community Foundations
Community Foundations seek support from the public and administer funds from various donors in a defined geographic area, typically no larger than a state.
Private Grantmakers
Private Grantmakers include private, independent, and family foundations, generally founded by an individual, family, or group of individuals.
Corporate Grantmakers
Corporate Grantmakers include corporate foundations and corporate giving programs that are funded by companies as separate legal entities.
Grantmaking Public Charities
Public charities are grantmaking organizations that raise and administer funds from various individual and organizational donors.
Non-US & Tribal Grantmaker
Foundations that are outside of the US. Tribal Grantmakers use grants to support native communities in the US and globally.
Non-Grantmakers
Non-grantmakers can join as associate members. This includes for-profit companies, nonprofit organizations, and sole-practitioners that provide services to support the philanthropic sector.
Why Join the Council on Foundations?
We are charting a course for the field where funders display high integrity, earn and maintain the public's trust, and serve as excellent stewards of philanthropic resources. We look forward to having you join us!
For more information about Council on Foundations membership, contact a member of our team at membership@cof.org or via phone at 202-991-2225 or 800-673-9036 for those outside the United States.
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Build Your Network
Gain access to our Peer Groups to connect with and learn from others in philanthropy, and join our online platform, the Philanthropy Exchange.
Access Trusted Legal Resources
Boost your understanding of sector-specific legal issues and get access to our Mastering Foundation Law publications and Legal Resources team to stay in-the-know on legal matters impacting the sector.
Tap Into Philanthropic Expertise
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.
Learn About and Inform Public Policy
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.
Develop Your Skills
Take advantage of member-exclusive discounts to trainings and capacity building programs to deepen your learning, including our annual conferences.
Shape the Council Community
Enhance your leadership skills by serving as a peer lead, volunteering on advisory groups, and recommending nominees for our annual Awards program.
Stay Informed on Sector Issues
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.
Save with Member Discounts
Enjoy annual savings through discounted registration for Council events and free or discounted access to publications, member resources, and research, including our annual Grantmaker Salary and Benefits report.
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What Our Members Say
The Council is an invaluable strategic partner for foundations. From creating intentional learning and relationship-building experiences to their approach to advocating for the interests of the philanthropic sector, the Council equips its members with the tools, information, and support to elevate the impact of the community foundation in their communities to decision-makers.
Naomi Amaha
Director of Policy and Government Affairs
The Denver Foundation
We have found the Council to be a wonderful resource, especially in this political moment.
Monica Lewis
Chief Operating Officer and Counsel
Moore Philanthropy
The Council shares an incredible amount of relevant content in a highly digestible way, keeping me informed so I can excel in my work. Attending the Council’s topical Peer Group conversations provides me with access to a supportive national network for both real-time problem solving and longer-term strategic thinking, while its conferences share highly relevant resources and experiences that ultimately help improve how my team and I do our work.
Jason Weiner
Philanthropic Advisor
The Cleveland Foundation
I can count on the Council to keep me posted on developments that we absolutely must understand to operate within the bounds of increasingly restrictive and complex regulations.
John Hecklinger
President and CEO
Global Fund for Children
The Council provides the resources and channels to stay connected and aligned and develop agendas to advance our field together.
Kristi Knous
President
Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines
As the primary voice for foundations, the Council is well-positioned to effectively advocate for the sector and advance our ability to serve communities.
Nick Deychakiwsky
Senior Program Officer
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
Ready to join the Council?
The Council on Foundations fosters an environment where philanthropy can thrive and cultivates a community of diverse and skilled philanthropic professionals and organizations who lead with integrity, serve as ethical stewards, and advocate for progress.
Career Pathways
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.
Council Awards
The Council's award programs were established to recognize excellence in philanthropy and honor exemplary leaders for their dedication in uplifting the sector.
Global Philanthropy
The Council is actively working to build connections among U.S. and global foundations that are addressing problems and advancing change around the world.
National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations™
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.
Community Foundations
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.
Corporate Philanthropy
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.
Private Foundations
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.
Public Grantmaking Charities
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.
Better Stories, Better Language
Rebuilding trust in institutions, including philanthropy, starts with a hard look at the words we use and the stories we tell.
Building Common Ground
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 Leadership
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.
Locally Led Development
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.
Sustainable Development Goals
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.
Values Aligned Philanthropy
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.
Ready to join the Council?
Unlock your foundation's full potential with exclusive member access to resources and opportunities created by and for philanthropic staff.
Network with sector leaders
Access legal expertise, publications, and capacity building tools
Join programs, events, and peer communities designed for you
Protecting Philanthropy
and the Charitable Sector
In this time of extraordinary change for our nation, the stakes have never been higher for those of us working to advance the greater good.
NOW AVAILABLE
CF Leadership Coalition: A Policy and Communications Membership Add-On
Join a network advancing shared policy priorities, responding to emerging challenges, and strengthening the field.
SURVEY NOW OPEN
Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Survey Now Open
Participate in the GSB survey and gain free access to the Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Report!
Sold Out
Building Together 2026
Building Together 2026 is the place to be for people working in philanthropy who are eager to connect and collaborate across differences. See you in Seattle, May 4-7, 2026.
NOW AVAILABLE
CF Leadership Coalition: A Policy and Communications Membership Add-On
Join a network advancing shared policy priorities, responding to emerging challenges, and strengthening the field.
SURVEY NOW OPEN
Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Survey Now Open
Participate in the GSB survey and gain free access to the Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Report!
Sold Out
Building Together 2026
Building Together 2026 is the place to be for people working in philanthropy who are eager to connect and collaborate across differences. See you in Seattle, May 4-7, 2026.
Upcoming Events
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May
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May
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May
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May 19, 2026
Jun
8
In the news
Press Release
Monday, March 16, 2026 - 10:00 am
Why join the Council?
Unlock your foundation's full potential with exclusive member access to resources and opportunities created by and for philanthropic staff.
Networking with sector leaders
Legal expertise, publications, and capacity building tools
Programs, events, and peer communities designed for you