Showing: 1 - 10 of 55 results
When disaster strikes and employees are affected, employers may provide financial assistance to their employees through corporate foundations and employer-sponsored funds at community foundations. The legal framework governing employee hardship assistance programs can vary, though, depending on the…
When disaster strikes a community, disaster relief funds administered through community foundations offer an efficient way to quickly get aid to those who need it. But it’s important to understand how the Internal Revenue Code requires these charitable funds be used, which can vary depending on the…
There's more to closing down a private foundation than packing up and turning off the utilities. Here are some questions, considerations, and IRS directions.Sometimes it is time for a private foundation to disappear—assets may have dwindled significantly or family members no longer share a common…
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…
Does the Council on Foundations provide assistance with starting a foundation?
Can we join the Council before our foundation is formed?
What are the general steps in starting a foundation?
Should we set up our foundation as a trust or a corporation?
What are the costs of starting a…
Grants to Public Charities from a Public Charity
Unless from a donor-advised fund, disaster relief grants to domestic section 501(c) (3) public charities do not present special issues.
Grants from a Donor-Advised Fund
Disaster relief aid can be provided through a donor-advised fund…
Grants to Public Charities from Private Foundations
For a private foundation, disaster relief grants to Section 501(c)(3) public charities based at home or abroad can be relatively straightforward, provided the grantee is not legally classified as a supporting organization.
If the grantee is…
https://cof.org/content/grants-organizations-donor-advised-funds-expenditure-responsibility-required
Use this flowchart to determine if grants from donor-advised funds require expenditure responsibility.
Expenditure responsibility is a five step procedure that is designed to ensure that foundation funds are used for exclusively charitable purposes.
The five basic steps that are required for completing expenditure responsibility include:
Conducting a pre-grant inquiry including a reasonable…
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…