2021-2025 Strategic Direction

At the Council on Foundations, we pride ourselves on being a learning organization – one that continuously seeks to understand, reflect, and evolve. It’s in that spirit that we introduce our upcoming member survey. All of our members have received invitations to participate from our research…

The virtual 2023 Annual Member Meeting included approval of the nominations for the Board of Directors and the State of the Council address from Kathleen Enright, President and CEO, Council on Foundations.  Celebrating our 2023 Council Award Winners During our 2023 Annual Member Meeting,…

It’s a headline we’re hearing from many places these days: Trust in institutions is at an all-time low. So it was good news for philanthropy when a study released earlier this month showed that nonprofits are generally very trusted. On the other hand: The study, What Americans Think About…

The Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy recently completed a study on American attitudes and knowledge about philanthropy. The findings, in short: Americans have favorable impressions of charitable giving and nonprofits, but many are unfamiliar with the sector itself, including…

A Winnett, Montana native, Laura Nowlin returned home to the family ranch with her husband and two children in 2012 after a 10-year absence. In those 10 years, Laura attended Montana State University – and earned a bachelor’s degree in History and went on to the University of Oregon where she…

At home and across the country, the Council community flourished in 2022. Check out the graphic below to see the metrics behind the impact, and read the full Year in Review, including a letter from our President and CEO, to learn more. Download the Year in Review.  

  The virtual 2022 Annual Member Meeting included: Remarks from the 2022 Distinguished Service Award winner, Charles Anderson, Board of Directors and Chair Emeritus of the San Juan Island Community Foundation, The State of the Council address from Kathleen Enright, President and CEO, Council…

The Council on Foundations is pleased to announce that Daniel Lee has joined the executive office as the newest member of the executive-in-residence program. An expert practitioner of strategic grantmaking, leadership development, and DEI, he currently serves as Vice President of the Board of…

You may notice something different about our website and social media presence. That’s right: Your 73-year-old Council on Foundations has a new look! We’re particularly excited to share this during the Council’s Member Week – a time when we celebrate and connect with our nearly 850 member…

  Recent data and research from sources such as the Edelman Trust Barometer suggest declining trust in nonprofits and philanthropy in the United States. Fraying trust in institutions, perceptions that nonprofits and philanthropy are politicized, intensifying critiques of philanthropy as a “…

*/ Last July, the Council on Foundations convened a group of community foundation leaders to develop a set of principles and policy recommendations to strengthen how community foundations use donor-advised funds (DAFs). The Strengthening Community Philanthropy Ad Hoc Working Group was made up of…

Like many leaders of private foundations, I have strong beliefs about the importance of growing philanthropy in ways that build trust and advance equity in the field. That is why I am so appreciative of the work that the Strengthening Community Philanthropy Ad Hoc Working Group (the Working Group)…

Dear Friend: 2021 was an historic year in many ways, for philanthropy and for the people and communities we care about. It was a year of loss and heartache as families and communities continued to suffer the effects of the pandemic and many other hardships. It was a year of advocacy to advance…

Many of us know that the philanthropic community has a critical role to play in addressing the increase in hate and hate crimes, but it’s not easy to figure out how to tackle this work. The Council on Foundations’ white paper, Values-Aligned Philanthropy: Foundations Resisting Hate and Extremism,…

Nonprofits and their funders know this challenge all too well—an organization has a great idea, so they begin to seek capital from funders or foundations. They hear the same answer regularly – “It sounds like a great idea. Come back to us after you’re further along.” This presents a chicken and egg…