Embracing Better Ways of Operating

Every summer, when school lunches stop for the season, nonprofits in Rapid City, South Dakota, run meal sites for kids under 18. Parents and guardians bring their children, sit with them while they eat, and go home hungry.Staff at the Black Hills Area Community Foundation (BHACF) heard about this…

The Council on Foundations does not provide grants to people or organizations (except in specific situations). If you're looking for funding for your work, check with the community foundation in your area.If you're looking for information about your own grantmaking, these resources may be helpful:…

Our facilitators draw on real experience — including the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country’s response to the July 2025 Kerr County floods, along with lessons from Uvalde, Texas, the Maine and California wildfires, and the Baltimore Key bridge collapse.Facilitators walk through a…

This workshop draws on real experiences from:July 2025 Kerr County floodsUvalde school shootingMaine and California wildfiresBaltimore bridge collapseFacilitators will walk through a practical framework for building public understanding before a crisis, managing communications in the moment,…

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…

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…

No amount of planning could have fully anticipated the challenges we faced in 2025. But by working together, we saw the power of the Council’s members in action.Our sector's strength is borne of our collective resolve. Council members represent and serve the full spectrum of society, from who they…

Training HoursWednesday, June 3, 1-4 p.m. ETThis workshop will include:  An overview of the nonprofit universe including information about including 501(c)(3) organizations and the differences between public charities and private foundations.Introduction to the statues, tax codes, and legal…

After a year of research, the Council and the University of Florida’s Center for Public Interest Communications released “Philanthropy’s New Voice: Building Trust With Deeper Stories and Clear Language" in April 2024. As the largest study of narratives in philanthropy, it offers science-backed…

Philanthropic organizations face heightened attention and expectations. To support Council members, our Legal Resources team hosted a webinar on what philanthropic organizations need to know to engage confidently and responsibly in civic engagement work.This session covered what organizations can…

We’ll discuss the essential elements of stories that are authentic, accurate, and ethical and that serve our communities and issues well.  In this session, you’ll learn:  How to incorporate a range of voices into your stories, including those closest to the issue, decisionmakers and…

Annual reports, 990 PFs, and all the other language foundations use don’t help people understand what we do. This workshop will help you replace the jargon and harmful metaphors with visual, memorable language. You’ll also learn the essential elements of stories that build trust. Bring your…

In this session, you’ll learn to align your stories with your theory of change and develop meaningful measurements that go beyond clicks, likes and shares.  You’ll learn: How to set meaningful goals that align with your organization’s mission and theory of change. How to write a theory of…

Workshop HoursTuesday, August 25: 1-5 p.m. ETThursday, August 27: 1-5 p.m. ETGovernment policies and programs, at the federal, state, and local level, affect almost every aspect of our lives, from housing, healthcare and the environment to education, transportation, and safety.  For…