Grantmaking Public Charity Membership
At the Council, Public charity members are grantmaking organizations that include intermediary grantmakers, health-conversion foundations, and public charities that make grants and operate programs.
Need more information? A member of our team is available to assist at membership@cof.org.
Join Now as a Public Charity Member
Member Benefits
Our public charity members value these benefits and services most:
On-demand support and access to our legal team on issues such as supporting scholarship programs, international grantmaking and disaster relief.
Access to annual convenings such as the HR Retreat and Public Policy Summit where you can engage with, and learn from, peers and partners in the field.
Exclusive access to more than 300 member-only resources – including recently updated sample documents such as fund agreements, policy documents and other templates.
Free access to the regularly updated Legal Compendium with chapters including Supporting Organizations and Foundation Finance and Investment Management.
Trainings, webinars and learning opportunities tailored specifically to public charities.
Membership Contribution
Public Charities self-report the Management and General Expenses portion of their Total Functional Expenses from their most recent completed fiscal year to determine their annual Council membership contribution. This is often equivalent to Section IX, Line 25, Column C in completed 990 forms.
Public Charity Operating Foundations - We want to remain nimble to your unique needs and structure. Public Operating Foundations may choose to pay their membership contribution based on assets using the Private Grantmaker membership contribution model.
| Management & General Expenses | Annual Contribution |
|---|---|
| $149,999 & under | $1,000 |
| $150,000-$349,999 | $2,500 |
| $350,000-$699,999 | $4,000 |
| $700,000-$999,999 | $7,000 |
| $1,000,000-$1,999,999 | $10,000 |
| $2,000,000-$3,999,999 | $15,000 |
| $4,000,000-$6,999,999 | $20,000 |
| $7,000,000-$11,999,999 | $25,000 |
| $12,000,000-$24,999,999 | $35,000 |
| $25,000,000 & over | $45,000 |
For more information about Council policies and member eligibility, please reference our Membership Policy.
If you do not want to use our online application system to join, you can download and complete the pdf membership application for Public Charity Members.