Public Policy

Led by Council on Foundations staff with collectively decades of experience with global philanthropy, the Global Grantmaking Essentials will also feature guest speakers with deep knowledge on specific issues or countries. Course Hours Tuesday, April 22: 1:00-5:00 p.m. ET Thursday, April 24:…

As many of the provisions in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) (P.L 115-97) expire at the end of 2025, the 119th Congress, led by Republican majorities in both chambers and the incoming Trump Administration, will prioritize passage of tax legislation. This page analyzes key provisions from the TCJA…

Overview Many provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) will expire at the end of 2025, prompting the need for Congress to pass legislation before the end of the year that extends, amends, or expands the TCJA, or some combination thereof. This guide supplements other Council resources…

In our new report, the Council — in partnership with Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement (PACE) and New Pluralists — surveyed 133 foundations and conducted 43 in-depth interviews with philanthropic leaders to examine how organizations are counteracting polarization in their communities.

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. Join a conversation with tax and government affairs experts as we talk through what this could mean for foundations and…

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…

Join us to learn how to prepare for the upcoming tax bill discussions (October 1), what election results could mean for philanthropy (November 14), and how you can join us in educating Congress about the issues important to the sector (February 11). This series is free and open to all foundation…

On September 11, the parties in American Alliance for Equal Rights (AAER) v. Fearless Foundation announced a settlement, resulting in the case’s dismissal in the federal district court where it had been pending for more than a year. At issue was the legality of the Fearless Strivers grant program,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Thank you for the opportunity to provide written testimony for the record on the subject of “Tax Tools for Local Economic Development.” We commend the Committee for holding a hearing on this pivotal topic as communities around the country continue to recover from the pandemic, natural disasters,…

Chairman Smith, Chairman Schweikert, Ranking Member Neal, and Ranking Member Pascrell, thank you for the opportunity to submit written comments to be included in the record of the Subcommittee on Oversight’s hearing on July 23, 2024, “Fueling Chaos: Tracing the Flow of Tax-Exempt Dollars to…

It’s almost August and as Congress adjourns for its August recess, this will be our last Snapshot of the summer. We’ll continue to track developments from Capitol Hill, the Biden-Harris administration, and other policy developments for their impact on the sector and share as needed. We’ll be back…

Community Foundation Resources Find resources for private foundations instead. This packet contains what you need to set up, prep for, and attend a meeting with your Member of Congress and/or their staff. We’ve included resources about key legislation, data about the sector, and template letters…