Council on Foundations
Encyclopedia
The Council on Foundations, formed in 1949, is a nonprofit membership association of grantmaking foundations and corporations. Members of the Council include more than 1,750 independent, operating, community, public, and company-sponsored foundations, and corporate giving programs in the United States and abroad. The Council’s mission is to provide the opportunity, leadership, and tools needed by philanthropic organizations to expand, enhance, and sustain their ability to advance the common good.
Mission:
Our members are committed to the public benefit and to their philanthropic purposes and act accordingly.
Stewardship:
Our members manage their resources to maximize philanthropic purposes, not private gain; and actively avoid excessive compensation and unreasonable or unnecessary expenses. They pursue maximum benefit through their work, how they work, and by supporting the work of partners, colleagues and grantees.
Accountability and Transparency:
In carrying out their philanthropic activities, our members embrace both the letter and the spirit of the law. They welcome public interest, take responsibility for their actions and communicate truthfully.
Diversity and Inclusiveness:
Our members seek diversity and inclusiveness in order to reflect the communities they serve and to ensure that a range of perspectives contribute to the common good and the development of their mission in a changing society. Learn more.
Governance:
Our members’ governing bodies understand and embrace their responsibility to oversee the mission, strategic direction, finances and operations of their respective organizations, and do so honestly and with integrity. They establish clear and understandable policies and ensure that they are followed.
Respect:
Members interact respectfully with grantees, colleagues, donors and peers.
Individuals, families, businesses, and organizations create permanent charitable funds that help their region meet the challenges of changing times. The foundation invests and administers these funds.
All community foundations are overseen by a volunteer board of leading citizens and run by professionals with expertise in identifying their communities’ needs.
In the United States, community foundations serve tens of thousands of donors, administer more than $31 billion in charitable funds, and address the core concerns of nearly 700 communities and regions.
Private independent foundations are distinct from private family or corporate foundations in that an independent foundation is not governed by the benefactor, the benefactor’s family or a corporation. Of the largest private foundations in the United States, most are independent foundations, although they may have begun as family foundations.
Nonvoting associate members of the Council on Foundations are philanthropic support entities, organizations or consultants that are engaged in the professional business of serving foundations, corporations or philanthropic entities.
Member benefits include the availability of tools and techniques of the trade, networking opportunities, legal resources, government relations advocacy, and professional development for foundations, corporate giving programs and service providers.
Grantmakers have the ability to connect with thought leaders and like-minded practitioners to learn about emerging issues that affect their work, foundation, and professional relationships. The Council provides a variety of professional development opportunities including: webinars, seminars, three premiere conferences, new grantmaker workshops, peer networks, exclusive CEO gatherings, and trustee resources.
The program helps increase the number of candidates from diverse backgrounds in the leadership pipeline who are considered for, appointed to, and retained in senior and executive positions in philanthropic organizations. The year-long leadership program is open to those who are currently employed by foundations and grantmaking institutions.
Council Profile
The Council on Foundations and its members promote the highest standards of ethical behavior. In recognition of the importance of philanthropy toward the public good and its members, the Council adopted these ethical principles.Mission:
Our members are committed to the public benefit and to their philanthropic purposes and act accordingly.
Stewardship:
Our members manage their resources to maximize philanthropic purposes, not private gain; and actively avoid excessive compensation and unreasonable or unnecessary expenses. They pursue maximum benefit through their work, how they work, and by supporting the work of partners, colleagues and grantees.
Accountability and Transparency:
In carrying out their philanthropic activities, our members embrace both the letter and the spirit of the law. They welcome public interest, take responsibility for their actions and communicate truthfully.
Diversity and Inclusiveness:
Our members seek diversity and inclusiveness in order to reflect the communities they serve and to ensure that a range of perspectives contribute to the common good and the development of their mission in a changing society. Learn more.
Governance:
Our members’ governing bodies understand and embrace their responsibility to oversee the mission, strategic direction, finances and operations of their respective organizations, and do so honestly and with integrity. They establish clear and understandable policies and ensure that they are followed.
Respect:
Members interact respectfully with grantees, colleagues, donors and peers.
Community Foundations
Community foundations are tax-exempt public charities serving thousands of people who share a common interest—improving the quality of life in their area.Individuals, families, businesses, and organizations create permanent charitable funds that help their region meet the challenges of changing times. The foundation invests and administers these funds.
All community foundations are overseen by a volunteer board of leading citizens and run by professionals with expertise in identifying their communities’ needs.
In the United States, community foundations serve tens of thousands of donors, administer more than $31 billion in charitable funds, and address the core concerns of nearly 700 communities and regions.
Corporate Grantmakers
Corporate giving is the making of charitable investments by companies engaged in business activity. Responsible corporate funders plan their giving strategically to attack root causes of problems that threaten the health of global communities (and therefore the health of the corporations themselves). These social investments can be cash, products, in-kind services, or employee voluntarism. Many companies make charitable contributions through both a company-sponsored foundation and a corporate contributions program.Family Philanthropy
The Council on Foundations defines a family foundation as one whose funds are derived from members of a single family. At least one family member must continue to serve as an officer or board member of the foundation and, as the donor, that individual (or a relative) must play a significant role in governing and/or managing the foundation.Global Philanthropy
The Council on Foundations defines “international grantmaking” to include grants made by U.S. foundations and corporations to overseas recipients as well as grants made to U.S.-based organizations operating international programs. This includes grants made toward activities wholly within the Unites States that have significant international purpose and impact.Independent
Private foundations make grants based on charitable endowments. The endowment funds come from one or a small handful of sources -- an individual, a family or a corporation. Because of their endowments, they are focused primarily on grantmaking and generally do not raise funds or seek public financial support the way public charities (like community foundations) must.Private independent foundations are distinct from private family or corporate foundations in that an independent foundation is not governed by the benefactor, the benefactor’s family or a corporation. Of the largest private foundations in the United States, most are independent foundations, although they may have begun as family foundations.
Membership
Full members of the Council on Foundations are foundations, corporations or philanthropic entities that primarily provide charitable support to two or more unrelated, external organizations or individuals on an annual basis and that support the public good.Nonvoting associate members of the Council on Foundations are philanthropic support entities, organizations or consultants that are engaged in the professional business of serving foundations, corporations or philanthropic entities.
Member benefits include the availability of tools and techniques of the trade, networking opportunities, legal resources, government relations advocacy, and professional development for foundations, corporate giving programs and service providers.
Professional Development
The Council’s educational offerings are designed to help all grantmaking professionals be successful.Grantmakers have the ability to connect with thought leaders and like-minded practitioners to learn about emerging issues that affect their work, foundation, and professional relationships. The Council provides a variety of professional development opportunities including: webinars, seminars, three premiere conferences, new grantmaker workshops, peer networks, exclusive CEO gatherings, and trustee resources.
Career Pathways Program
The Council on Foundations' Career Pathways program is one of the nation's premier programs to prepare philanthropic leaders and to help foundations and grantmakers acquire and retain the best management talent. It fosters diversity, inclusion, and excellence in philanthropic leadership for mid-career professionals.The program helps increase the number of candidates from diverse backgrounds in the leadership pipeline who are considered for, appointed to, and retained in senior and executive positions in philanthropic organizations. The year-long leadership program is open to those who are currently employed by foundations and grantmaking institutions.