All Resources
Displaying 17 - 32 of 534 results
Publication, Research
The 2025 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits (GSB) Administrative and Program Expense Tables provide foundations the benchmarking data needed to measure administrative, program, service, and qualifying distribution expenses against peers in the field. Containing data collected through the Council’s GSB…
Publication, Research
The 2025 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Report contains the most comprehensive and up-to-date data on U.S. philanthropic sector salaries, benefits, and demographic details, with information presented by grantmaker type, foundation type, asset size, and geographic location. The 2025 Grantmaker…
Research
The 2025 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits (GSB) Key Findings is a visual highlight of the trends and changes that are shaping the philanthropic sector.
Also available as a free PDF, the 2025 GSB Key Findings is just a small fraction of the expansive dataset available in the 2025 GSB Report, which…
Legal Compliance Guidance
Developed for the Council on Foundations by Christopher J. Armstrong, Partner at Holland & Knight
The Current Environment
Foundations are under increasing political scrutiny regarding their relationships with organizations that have engaged in protests, especially in situations where…
Publication, Research
In September 2023, a group of 15 foundations joined 20 bilateral donors in signing a Donor Statement committing to advancing locally led development. After recent global shifts in foreign assistance and the dismantling of USAID, the Council on Foundations wanted to understand how philanthropy has…
Legal Compliance Guidance
Developed for the Council on Foundations by Christopher J. Armstrong, Partner at Holland & Knight
In the event that a senior leader of a community foundation or similar organization is arrested at a First Amendment protected protest, preparing for an immediate response is essential to…
Publication, Research
The CCSF Study is the field’s most comprehensive and authoritative study on investment and governance policies and practices, and the 2024 CCSF studies 255 private and community foundations representing $104.9 billion in assets. Topics covered include:
Returns and Investment Objectives
Asset…
Legal Compliance Guidance
After listening, research, and consultation with the field, the Council on Foundations is expanding legal support to help community foundations prepare for—and respond to—threats that could shape the future of the sector.
The resources presented on this page provide additional analysis,…
Legal Compliance Guidance
Developed for the Council on Foundations by Christopher J. Armstrong, Partner at Holland & Knight
Congress’s power to conduct inquiries, including information requests, the issuance of subpoenas, and public hearings has long been recognized by the courts as part of Congress’s power to…
Research
Download these one-pagers to help show the value of philanthropy in communities across the country.
Generic Value of Philanthropy
Value of Philanthropy in the United States
These documents highlight the value of philanthropy in specific states:
Alabama
Arizona
California
Connecticut…
Legal Compliance Guidance
This page outlines the range of purposes that qualify an organization for tax exemption under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It explains how the IRS and courts interpret key terms — especially "charitable" — and how those interpretations shape eligibility.
Permissible Exempt…
Toolkit
As the One, Big, Beautiful bill containing the many Republican priorities moves through Congress under the reconciliation process, this page aims to answer frequently asked questions regarding the bill's key provisions impacting the philanthropic sector and charitable giving.
This page will be…
Research
Increasing taxes on private foundations means fewer dollars to charitable organizations, from food pantries to disaster relief groups. The below data from Candid shows that in almost every state, private foundations will have to pay millions more in taxes, crippling their ability to respond to the…
Legal Compliance Guidance
On May 9, 2025, the House Ways and Means Committee released initial legislative text of the tax bill to be marked up this week. The Committee is expected to release a revised and more substantive bill Monday afternoon, so the provisions below could be modified and are subject to change.
Individual…
Toolkit
Find your member of Congress and their contact information
We're asking you to reach out to your Member of Congress to voice concerns with provisions in the tax bill that could impact philanthropy. You may only have a couple of minutes to make your point as staff will be receiving similar requests…
Legal Compliance Guidance
Self-Defense Exception: A legislative proposal to modify the private foundation excise tax on net investment income under IRC section 4940 would qualify as a self-defense issue, because it affects a private foundation’s duties. Private foundations may therefore communicate with the legislature, its…