Public Policy

Don't Miss Out on Community Foundation Week! Yesterday marked the first day of Community Foundation week! CF week has been celebrated every November 12th-18th since 1989 to raise awareness of the critical role of community philanthropy in supporting thriving communities across the country. In…

Community Foundation Week Starts Next Thursday Next Thursday, November 12th marks the beginning of Community Foundation week! CF week has been celebrated every November 12th-18th since 1989 to raise awareness of the critical role of community philanthropy in supporting thriving communities across…

Download the Presentation Slides The Healthy, Hunger-Free Act of 2010 authorizes funding for federal nutrition programs including: the national school lunch and breakfast program; the nutrition program for women, infants, and children; and other child and adult food care programs. This…

News from the Hill Ryan is Elected Speaker of the House Yesterday afternoon, Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI-1) was elected as the next Speaker of the House. This marks the conclusion of a month-long process for the GOP to select a viable candidate for this position. With Ryan’s ascension to…

Members, Access the Recording and Slides     Immigration reform is a hot topic on the national scene as the 2016 presidential election looms. While no consensus legislation has emerged on Capitol Hill to date, our guests discussed how funders can play a role in educating federal, State…

News from the Hill Nonprofit Leaders Urge Congress to Act on Extenders On Wednesday, the Council on Foundations and Independent Sector organized a briefing with the House and Senate Philanthropy Caucuses on Capitol Hill to urge Congress to take immediate action on making permanent the three…

Today, Independent Sector and the Council on Foundations, supported by 18 other leading philanthropic and charitable organizations, urged Congress to take immediate action to make permanent the three currently expired charitable giving incentives that are part of the tax extenders package.…

The Government Affairs team and the Legal team at the Council diligently follow and consistently engage on regulatory matters that impact the nonprofit and philanthropic sector. See below for comments and letters that Council has submitted with input from our members and the field to strengthen…

Due to the Columbus Day holiday and this week’s Congressional recess, today’s edition of Washington Snapshot will be slightly abbreviated. News from the Hill Upcoming Philanthropy Caucus Briefing As our readers know, the Council on Foundations has been very active in reviving the Philanthropy…

News from the Hill Who will be the Next Speaker of the House? Yesterday, in a significant and surprising move, the leading Republican to replace John Boehner as House Speaker, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA-23), announced that he was withdrawing his candidacy for the position. This has caused…

Members, Access the Recording and Slides     The Healthy, Hunger-Free Act of 2010 authorizes funding for federal nutrition programs including: the national school lunch and breakfast program; the nutrition program for women, infants, and children; and other child and adult food…

Breaking News: Secretary Duncan to Step Down Just today, U.S. Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan announced that he will be stepping down in December from the position, which he has held since the beginning of the Obama Administration in 2009. It is expected that President Obama will…

The Council has full-time attorneys with a breadth of experience on staff. This team serves as a valuable resource to Council members, and is available to provide information on a wide range of topics that impact foundation operations. On a regular basis, members of our Legal Team: Field more…

Breaking News: Speaker Boehner to Retire at End of October Just as we were preparing to send Snapshot to our readers, we received word that Speaker of the House, Representative John Boehner (R-OH-8) will retire from Congress at the end of October. This announcement came during a meeting with GOP…

In 2012, the Department of Treasury and the IRS issued proposed regulations applicable to private foundations seeking to make grants to foreign organizations using equivalency determinations. At the time, the Council submitted comments in support of the rules, and urged Treasury and the IRS to…

Executive & Regulatory News New Guidance on Mission-Related Investing This week, the Treasury Department released long-awaited guidance on mission-related investments (MRIs), which the Council requested this year in our 2015-16 Treasury Priority Guidance Plan comments. The Council, along with…