The Fearless Fund and Fearless Foundation announced a settlement with the American Alliance for Equal Rights and will end its grant program for Black female entrepreneurs, which AAER claimed was racially discriminatory in its suit, filed last August. The most recent ruling before the settlement, from the 11th Circuit appeals court, said that AAER had standing to sue and that the grant program was likely to violate Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1886 because it created a contractual relationship between Fearless Foundation and its grantees. 

Fearless says the settlement does not restrict any of its charitable activity outside of the grant contest. But what does it mean for foundations and other charitable organizations dedicated to supporting historically marginalized groups? Join the Council and Independent Sector to hear our advice and get your questions answered.

Elective Pay (also known as Direct Pay) was passed as part of the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022. Eligible organizations can receive a tax credit for making clean energy investments. Kristin Tracz walks us through how community foundations and their grantees can take advantage of this program for building clean energy projects.

State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) were allocated to state, local, tribal, and territorial governments under the American Rescue Plan Act to support their response to and recovery from the COVID-19 public health emergency. These funds can be invested in local charitable nonprofits, yet with a deadline of December 31, 2024, billions of unspent dollars may have to be returned to the federal government. David L. Thompson and Jessica Mendieta from the National Council of Nonprofits share time-tested steps foundations, and their nonprofit partners can take today to advocate for how our communities can access those remaining dollars before it is too late.

During this session, participants will engage in a Q&A discussion with Council on Foundations Director of Legal Resources Ben McDearmon, Staff Counsel Remy Barnwell, and Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Yoo-Jin Kang, to address DEI and legal questions in the wake of the Fearless Foundation ruling and more. Registrants will have an opportunity to share top questions/concerns for legal review prior to the session.

This roundtable will explore how to reimagine and redistribute power within philanthropic organizations to foster more equitable decision-making processes. Operationalizing DEI requires a fundamental shift in how power is held and shared, ensuring that diverse voices are included in shaping organizational direction and impact.

This session addresses the critical role of self and community care in sustaining DEI work. By prioritizing the well-being of practitioners, we create a foundation for resilience and long-term engagement. Operationalizing DEI begins with ensuring that those leading these efforts are equipped to manage resistance and avoid burnout, thereby maintaining the momentum needed to drive systemic change. 

In January the 119th Congress will be sworn in and take on the work of choosing leadership for the House and Senate, as well as for each of the 40+ Committees that make up Congress. Join this webinar to learn about the dynamics of the new Congress and how we expect the shifting policy environment to impact philanthropy. Plus, we’ll discuss the upcoming 2025 tax bill and let you know how you can act to ensure philanthropy’s priorities are included.  

The 2025 Election results will alter dynamics in Washington, D.C. National political analyst and editor-in-chief of the Cook Political Report, Amy Walter, breaks down what the election results could mean for your work and for the U.S. broadly. In addition, government affairs experts provide insight regarding how they think the new White House and Congress could impact philanthropy as of 11/14/24.

Listen to this conversation to hear how the recent elections could impact the upcoming policy discussions and the work of foundations as of 11/14/24

As you know, most policy issues impacting philanthropy are tax policy issues. In December 2025, key provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) are set to expire, kicking off a race to develop new tax legislation. Even before we know the results of the 2024 election, Congressional committees and individual offices have begun to outline their policy priorities for this upcoming tax bill. Here is a conversation with tax and government affairs experts as we talk through what this could mean for foundations and what you can do now to get ready.