Publications

Includes results of the FY 2014 Columbus Survey of Community Foundations that pertain to the top 100 community foundations by asset size as of May 19, 2015. The table includes the community foundation name, amount of assets at the time of the survey, and fiscal year-end (FYE). Stats are based on FY…

With this report, CF Insights' aim is to share a snapshot of community foundation asset growth and activity during 2014. The findings are based on 274 community foundation responses to the Columbus Survey as of May 2015. The community foundation field achieved another year of healthy growth in 2014…

The Council on Foundations, in collaboration with BoardSource, created this easy-to-use guide for new foundation board members. 

The report explores the ways in which infrastructure organizations think about the value and the mechanics of collaboration—the drivers and barriers to collaborative work—and determine ways to encourage more effective partnerships. The publication features a framework for understanding…

Closing a nonprofit charitable institution presents a range of unknowns to the grantmaking community. In this analysis, authors John Dickason and Duncan Neuhauser provide guidance to foundations considering whether to create a time-limited foundation or bring a foundation to an end. Topics include…

Understanding the challenges of currency fluctuations on international grantmaking, and taking action to minimize their impact can ensure that this natural process does not become an added barrier to overseas giving. This resource focuses on some of the challenges foundations and giving programs…

The challenges of the recent financial downturn have inspired many community foundations to find new paths to business model innovation. Alliances, affiliations, and mergers offer one path to “shared success.” Seeking shared success with other community foundations is one intriguing way to innovate…

The Stewardship Principles for Corporate Grantmakers are a set of governance best practices that embody how corporate philanthropies can reflect fundamental values including honesty, integrity, fairness, and trust, in their board governance, management, and grantmaking.

The role of the foundation CEO is pivotal to the success of a foundation’s goals. Even at foundations without staff, the tasks of the CEO do not disappear, but rather are carried out by board members. In this publication, we explore some of the critical issues and challenges that foundation CEOs…

While cross-border philanthropy has much in common with domestic giving within a country, it also differs in significant and challenging ways. Language differences, communication across vast distances, unfamiliar cultural values and perspectives, multiple legal systems, and disparate accounting…

This document codifies the job functions of private foundation CEOs and the skills and knowledge needed to perform these functions, referred to as competencies.

Please note: This resource was published in 2010.   This guide is designed to help foundations consider how more diverse and inclusive practices might advance their mission by making their work more effective and more reflective of communities served. By highlighting 10 ways family…

Please note: This resource was published in 2010.   This guide is designed to help foundations consider how more diverse and inclusive practices might advance their mission by making their work more effective and more reflective of communities served. By highlighting 10 ways independent…

Please note: This resource was published in 2010.   This guide is designed to help foundations consider how more diverse and inclusive practices might advance their mission by making their work more effective and more reflective of communities served. By highlighting 10 ways community…

Community foundations understand how the traditional community foundation business model falls short of new aspirations. Sustainability is an ongoing challenge and many community foundations work towards continually adapting their business model to support a changing context and achieve enough…

Includes results of the FY 2013 Columbus Survey of Community Foundations that pertain to the top 100 community foundations by asset size as of April 14, 2014. The table includes the community foundation name, amount of assets at the time of the survey, and fiscal year-end (FYE). Stats are based on…