Public Policy
Fearless Fund Case Summary
On August 2, 2023, the nonprofit membership organization American Alliance for Equal Rights (AAER) filed a complaint on behalf of three of its unnamed members in the Northern District of Georgia against Fearless Fund and related entities—including Fearless Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization. The…
Fearless Fund Amicus Brief
Philanthropic donations support our communities in ways that mirror our values, playing a key role in promoting civic engagement. We believe – and the courts have ruled – that philanthropic organizations and individuals have the right to exercise their views through giving, as protected by the…
Washington Snapshot: Proposed DAF Regulations
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Plus, Foundations on the Hill, government funding, countering antisemitism, Leadership Circle on Locally Led Development, and more.
Public policy news and updates for the…
Global Grantmaking Essentials - October 2024
Led by Council on Foundations staff with collectively decades of experience with global philanthropy, the Global Grantmaking Essentials will also feature guest speakers with deep knowledge on specific issues or countries.
Wednesday, October 9: 1:00-5:00 p.m. ET
Thursday, October 10: 1:00-5:00 p.m…
Essentials of Policy Advocacy for Grantmakers, September 2024
The Essentials of Policy Advocacy for Grantmakers course will help foundation staff use their resources effectively to advance public policies that support the greater good. Rather than focusing on what policies foundations should address, this training will focus on how to engage in policy…
Digesting Proposed DAF Regulations
The Council's Government Affairs and Legal Resources team provided an overview of the IRS's proposed donor-advised fund (DAF) regulations. The proposed regulations clarify the definitions around DAFs, address excise taxes on taxable distributions made by a sponsoring organization from a DAF,…
Public Policy Action Network - Q1 2024 Meeting
The Council’s Public Policy Action Network is a members-only group of foundation leaders committing their voices, experiences, and networks to engage and educate federal elected officials to foster a policy environment in which philanthropy can thrive. Policymakers depend on the voices and…
Practice and Purpose of Policy: A Training for Community Foundation Leaders
Register Now!
As organizations committed to strengthening community foundations, CFLeads and the Council on Foundations are partnering to offer a new public policy and advocacy training course for community foundations. This updated training will provide community foundation leaders and staff with…
Essentials of Policy Advocacy for Grantmakers - March 2024
The Essentials of Policy Advocacy for Grantmakers course will help foundation staff use their resources effectively to advance public policies that support the greater good. Rather than focusing on what policies foundations should address, this training will focus on how to engage in policy…
Washington Snapshot: Congress’ Lengthy To-Do List
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Plus, a new Speaker, USAID's Powered by the People, new IRS guidance, child care, data privacy, and more.
Public policy news and updates for the philanthropic sector…
Washington Snapshot: Speakerless House
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Plus, Federal Grants Reform, IRS priorities, a scam warning, HUD funding, USDA anti-bias summit, nonprofit news, and more.
Public policy news and updates for the…
Washingon Snapshot: Philanthropy’s Day of Action on the Charitable Act
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Plus, how a shutdown could affect you, Civil Rights Act clarification, Distressed Area Recompete Pilot applications, CSLFRF and more.
Public policy news and updates for the…
Washington Snapshot: Congress is back in session!
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Plus, changes to Snapshot, guidance for disaster relief, a policy update, appropriations, new overtime rules and more.
Public policy news and updates for the philanthropic…
SFFA Case Summary and Ruling
Legal Compliance Guidance
On June 29, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its ruling on two cases involving the use of race-conscious admissions practices by colleges and universities: Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) v. Harvard and SFFA v. University of North Carolina (UNC).
The majority opinion held that the race-…
Statement on Supreme Court Ruling Limiting Race-Conscious Admissions
WASHINGTON – The United States Supreme Court released its decision today on the use of race-conscious admissions programs in higher education, holding that "Harvard's and UNC's admissions programs violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment."
“The Council on Foundations…
Public Policy Action Network - November 2023 Meeting
The Council’s Public Policy Action Network is a members-only group of foundation leaders committing their voices, experiences, and networks to engage and educate federal elected officials to foster a policy environment in which philanthropy can thrive. Policymakers depend on the voices and…