Led by Council on Foundations staff with collectively decades of experience with global philanthropy, the Global Grantmaking Essentials will also feature guest speakers with deep knowledge on specific issues or countries. 

Course Hours

• Tuesday, April 7: 1-5 p.m. ET
• Thursday, April 9: 1-5 p.m. ET
• Tuesday, April 14: 1-5 p.m. ET

This training will be conducted live on Zoom and is designed for meaningful participation. Each session offers opportunities to engage directly with peers and content, so we ask that you plan to be fully present and minimize distractions where possible  

To protect privacy, sessions will not be recorded. The course consists of three four-hour sessions, each with two scheduled breaks. Please plan to join all three sessions and take part actively throughout.

About Global Grantmaking Essentials 

The Global Grantmaking Essentials course is built on the Council’s more than 40 years of experience in supporting foundations who work and grant internationally.   

This three-day training will provide attendees with a thorough understanding of the regulatory frameworks governing global grantmaking, offer tools and resources to help navigate these complex systems, and suggest better ways of operating internationally based on trends, data, and research. 

Global Grantmaking Essentials also includes time for networking and discussion based on the type of grantmakers in attendance, providing unique space for dialogue and reflection among peers. 

Who Should Attend

This training is designed for grantmaking, program, or legal staff at U.S.-based foundations who are new to global grantmaking or seeking additional tools. It is open to staff and Board members from independent, family, corporate, community, and public charity foundations, including global intermediaries.  

Please note: the course is limited to foundation staff and Board members. While open to participants from outside the U.S., the content is focused on U.S. law and its impact on global grantmaking.

Participants will explore the following during the course:

• Introduction to global grantmaking 
• Legal basics: equivalency determination and expenditure responsibility
• The alphabet soup of global regulations
• Navigating country laws
• Working with intermediaries
• The current policy landscape: foreign aid, investigations, and what’s next

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 7, 2026 will incur a 25% administrative fee per registration. No refunds will be provided after March 7, 2026.

Taught by a variety of seasoned and experienced community foundation leaders and Council experts, this course helps community foundation staff and board members master the unique aspects of the community foundation field. You'll learn about effective practices, get helpful tools and information, and network with peers in the field. Both comprehensive and engaging, this course is an efficient and affordable way to increase your knowledge of the field.  

Created and led by experienced community foundation leaders and Council attorneys this course includes:

• Basic information on governance, resource development and donor relations;
• Updates on key legal and legislative issues;
• Information on grantmaking; and
• Review of community leadership and fiduciary responsibilities.

Course Hours

• Tuesday, February 17: 1 – 5 p.m. ET
• Thursday, February 19: 1 – 5 p.m. ET
• Tuesday, February 24: 1 – 5 p.m. ET
• Thursday, February 26: 1 – 5 p.m. ET

This virtual training will be conducted live on Zoom and is designed around your participation, creating space for you to directly engage with peers and content. We ask that you plan to be fully present during the hours of the training, minimizing distractions to the best of your ability. We do not offer a recording of the course due to platform and privacy issues.  Please plan to actively participate during all four days. Each of the four sessions is 4 hours and includes two breaks. 

Who Should Attend

This course is designed for community foundation staff and board members only and is recommended for individuals that have been in their positions for at least three months but less than five years.   

Course Topics

• Review community foundation's history, emerging goals, unique characteristics and future trends
• Discuss governance and board responsibilities respective to their roles and goals
• Engage in a discussion on why and how donors give to community foundations
• Learn of various gift types, developing gift agreements and planned givings 
• Understand resource development procedures in attracting gifts
• Listen and learn from the Council legal team to comprehend all legalities from nonprofits to donor control 
• Ascertain key tips and tools about stewardship, accountability and fiduciary responsibilities within your community foundations
• Discover ways to set grantmaking priorities and understand roles in community leadership

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 January 17, 2026 will incur a 25% administrative fee per registration. No refunds will be provided after January 17, 2026.

Join us for this peer-led event dedicated specifically to foundations working on advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or are open to learning more about how the SDGs can fit within their work.

Connect with foundation peers to learn about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The group meets monthly via Zoom to discuss SDG hot topics including education, local implementation, community alignment and communication, professional development, data, grantmaking, and more. This community is primarily focused on expanding the SDGs in the United States through community foundation action, but all nationalities are welcome.

By registering, you agree to share some identifying information with the hosts of the event.

Bridging Urban and Rural Partnerships: How Governments and Foundations Advance the SDGs.

Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires collaboration across sectors, scales, and geographies. In this session, we’ll explore how local governments and community foundations are working together to advance sustainability and resilience—from the bustling urban centers of Central Florida to the rural communities of West Central Minnesota.

Through candid conversation, panelists will share how partnerships between philanthropy and government can accelerate climate action, strengthen local economies, and build more resilient communities—while highlighting what’s unique about working in urban versus rural contexts. Attendees will gain practical insights on aligning funding, policy, and community priorities to create lasting impact.

Speakers:
In partnership with the Central Florida Foundation,

• Carrie Black, Chief Sustainability and Resilience Officer, Orange County, FL
• Dr. Brittany Sellers, Assistant Director of Sustainability, Resilience, and Future-Ready Initiatives, City of Orlando
• Sandi Vidal, VP of Community Strategies and Initiatives, Central Florida Foundation

Representing the West Central Initiative (WCI),

• Cedar Walters, Director of Climate and Sustainability Programs
• Griffin Peck, Energy and Adaptation Planner
• Rebecca Lynn Peterson, Director of Development and Philanthropic Services

As we approach the end of 2025, community foundations face a range of questions related to gift acceptance and donor stewardship. Join us for an open office hours session where the Council’s Legal Resources team will be available to discuss key year-end topics and answer your questions. 

Frequently asked questions we’ll cover include: 

• Qualified charitable distributions 

• Gift timing and acknowledgement 

• Tax changes for 2026 

Whether you're wrapping up your community foundation’s activities or preparing for a strong start to 2026, this is a great opportunity to get clarity. 

Bring your questions! This session is designed to be interactive and responsive to your needs.  

During a moment in which many in the field have questions concerning the operation of their scholarship programs, this new virtual peer-led space for you to explore the unique challenges of scholarship work, how others are navigating the current environment while ensuring that they continue to meet legal obligations, the specific structures and mechanics of operating a scholarship program, and much more.

The Council on Foundations is launching a new peer space for foundation staff that manage and lead scholarship programs. These engaging peer events are designed to be informal, peer-led conversations with fellow foundation staff (of all types) to share best practices and explore common challenges in scholarship programs. Whether you are new to managing scholarships or have years of experience, you’ll gain fresh ideas and build relationships with colleagues.