Embracing Better Ways of Operating
Recommended Best Practices in Managing Foundation Investments
Fundamentals
The Council's Board of Directors released this guidance memorandum in March 2010 and strongly recommends that when reviewing and approving foundation investment policies and procedures practices, all foundations—private and public—consider these best practices in foundation investment management.
Networking for Success: Building Networks Is Essential to Investment in Social Impact Bonds
Toolkit
Working in collaboration with the Center for American Progress, the Council co-hosted conversations among foundations, community development financial institutions, and investment firms about social impact bonds and Pay for Success. Out of these conversations, two issue briefs were created:
“…
Board Compensation
Fundamentals
Introduction
Should your foundation board members be compensated for service, or should they serve in a voluntary capacity? Whether you are considering this issue for the first time, or whether it’s a question that has arisen before, compensation has become more than an internal management…
FAQ: Agency Endowment Funds
Legal Compliance Guidance, Fundamentals
What is an agency endowment?
What types of organization can establish an agency endowment at a community foundation?
When a public charity establishes an agency endowment at a community foundation, which organization owns the contributed funds?
Since the agency is releasing legal ownership of…
What to Require of Grantees
Fundamentals, Legal Compliance Guidance
Good relationships between grantmakers and grantees promote more effective philanthropy. But there's nothing that can mess up a good partnership faster than an overzealous lawyer. In seeking to protect their foundation clients, lawyers can sometimes impose excessive requirements on grantees,…
Starting a Foundation
Fundamentals
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 foundation…
IRS Search Tool: Select Check
External Resource
Grantmakers searching for more detailed information about the charitable status of their potential grantees may find the answers they need in the IRS Select Check tool.
This IRS online search tool allows the user to:
(1) search the IRS public charity list, known as IRS Publication 78, for data to…
Collaboration, Communication, Commitment: The Essentials of Community Development
The once-closed public library in Chicago's Marshall Square, silent for a decade, now thrives as a dynamic community center, pulsating with youth activities and powered by clean, renewable energy.
Luis Gutierrez, founder and CEO of Latinos Progresando, which runs the center, hails it as an “…
Philanthropy's New Voice: Building Trust With Deeper Stories and Clear Language
Publication, Research
United States foundations are an essential element of America’s social sector, supporting causes from public libraries to groundbreaking research, to new approaches to building a more equitable world. But despite their reach, foundations have an identity problem. From small towns to Washington, D.C…
Community Foundation Excellence (CFE) Fundamentals Course - Virtual - November 2024
A well-trained staff and an informed board are critical to the success of community foundations in our fast-changing world. This course helps community foundation staff that are new to the field build the essential skills they need to balance governance and management with the broader understanding…
Legal Matters for Community Foundations - September 2024
Led by the Council on Foundations Legal Team, this workshop is flexibly organized to ensure that your broad legal questions for administering funds, grants, and community foundation activities are addressed. The legal team will provide technical and practical understanding of complex rules and…
Legal Matters for Corporate Foundations and Giving Programs - Virtual - August 2024
Led by the Council on Foundations Legal team, this workshop is flexibly organized to ensure that your broad legal questions for administering funds, grants, and corporate foundation activities are addressed. The legal team will provide technical and practical understanding of complex rules and…
Legal Matters for Community Foundations - June 2024
Led by the Council on Foundations Legal Team, this workshop is flexibly organized to ensure that your broad legal questions for administering funds, grants, and community foundation activities are addressed. The legal team will provide technical and practical understanding of complex rules and…
Global Grantmaking Essentials - April 2024
This course is sold out. Still interested in Global Grantmaking Essentials? Join us in October.
The Global Grantmaking Essentials course provides a thorough overview of the laws governing global grantmaking and offers practical solutions for foundation staff responsible for making grants abroad. …
New Executive Leaders Roundtable - December 2023
Creating Peer Space for Leaders in Private and Corporate Philanthropy
Foundation leaders are uniquely positioned to advance change in their organizations, their communities, and the broader field. The Council is excited to offer programming to support foundation executive leaders, particularly…
Community Foundation Excellence (CFE) Fundamentals Course - Virtual - July 2024
A well-trained staff and an informed board are critical to the success of community foundations in our fast-changing world. This course helps community foundation staff that are new to the field build the essential skills they need to balance governance and management with the broader understanding…