Public Policy
Info Session: The Council & Independent Sector’s Amicus Brief in Support of Fearless Foundation
The Council on Foundations and Independent Sector filed an amicus brief on December 12 in support of Fearless Foundation. We filed the brief because we believe that foundations, charitable nonprofits, philanthropic organizations, and individuals have the right to exercise their views through giving…
Council on Foundations, Independent Sector File Amicus Brief in Fearless Foundation Lawsuit to Protect Right to Give
WASHINGTON - The Council on Foundations (The Council) and Independent Sector (IS) have filed a joint amicus brief in support of the Atlanta-based Fearless Foundation, an organization led by Black women that helps combat underfunding in venture capital by providing grants, tools, and mentorship to…
Reference Page: Comparing 501(c)3 and 501(c)4 Organizations
Further reading for Comparing 501(c)3 and 501(c)4 Organizations, a Council on Foundations reference sheet. For questions, visit cof.org or contact the Council on Foundations' Government Affairs and Legal Resources Team at govt@cof.org.
Download the full document: Comparing 501(c)3 and 501(c)4…
Comments on Proposed Revisions to the Federal Guidance for Grants and Agreements OMB-2023-0017-0001
The Council on Foundations welcomes this opportunity to provide comments on the proposed revisions to the Federal Guidance for Grants and Agreements, OMB-2023-0017001.
The Council on Foundations is a nonprofit membership association that serves as a guide for philanthropies as they advance the…
Stand With Us for Philanthropy
We invite philanthropic and nonprofit organizations to sign on to the statement below to join the Council on Foundations and Independent Sector in supporting the rights of philanthropic organizations, charitable nonprofits, and individual donors to give in ways that align with their values.
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…
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…
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-…