Human Resources & Operations
Staffing decisions are among the most important decisions that foundations will make. Foundation staff are responsible for executing organizational strategies and advancing the foundation’s mission; without strong and competent employees, the foundation may be left floundering. In human resource decisions, foundations must assess needs; recruit, screen, select, and hire personnel; orient new employees; and develop evaluation, training, and development strategies for long-term growth.
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…
2025 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Report
Publication, Research
The 2025 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Report contains the most comprehensive and up-to-date data on U.S. philanthropic sector salaries, benefits, and demographic details, with information presented by grantmaker type, foundation type, asset size, and geographic location. The 2025 Grantmaker…
2025 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Report: Key Findings
Research
The 2025 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits (GSB) Key Findings is a visual highlight of the trends and changes that are shaping the philanthropic sector.
Also available as a free PDF, the 2025 GSB Key Findings is just a small fraction of the expansive dataset available in the 2025 GSB Report, which…
2024 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Report: Key Findings
Research
The 2024 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits (GSB) Key Findings is an illustrated, three-page document highlighting important trends shaping the philanthropic sector. Also available as a free PDF, the 2024 GSB Key Findings is just a small fraction of the expansive dataset available in the 2024 GSB…
Publication
Since 1980, the Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Report (GSB) has provided the sector with the most comprehensive data on staff composition and compensation in the United States. Grantmakers rely on this annual report to inform budgeting, talent recruitment and retention strategies, and personnel…
Sample Document
Sample formal policy on records retention and destruction for board approval.
This sample document is being provided for informational purposes and is not to be shared without the permission of the Council on Foundations. Use of the sample document does not create an attorney-client relationship,…
Sample Document
Editable internal polices for staff, board members, and committee members about the use of social media.
This sample document is being provided for informational purposes and is not to be shared without the permission of the Council on Foundations. Use of the sample document does not create an…
Recording
This is the first part of a webinar series on digitalization and its impact on community foundations — Digitalization and the Community Foundation Business Model: Data and Transperancy.
Data can be overwhelming. But is it possible to harness your foundation’s data and turn it from a challenge…
The State of Change: An Analysis of Women and People of Color in the Philanthropic Sector
Publication, Research
The Council’s report, The State of Change: An Analysis of Women and People of Color in the Philanthropic Sector, examines the demographics of the philanthropic sector, looking back over the last five and ten years, with a specific focus on the representation of women and people of color. The data…
Toolkit
Non-profit executive searches generally take a minimum of four months, and can take as long as six to eight months. A clear sense of mission and a well understood position description for the new President and CEO will be absolutely essential for success in identifying and, more importantly,…
Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Survey FAQs
Fundamentals
What are the benefits of participation?Can I participate?How do I participate?What information will I need to complete the survey?What positions are included in the survey?Where does my state fall within the geographic breakdowns in the report?How much does the report cost?When is the report/data…
Record Retention for Foundations
Legal Compliance Guidance
Foundation recordkeeping is an inherently dull topic—unless it’s done wrong. The foundation manager who has not kept adequate documentation regarding expenditure responsibility grants risks an IRS audit. Similarly, a foundation manager confronted with a trustee succession battle will find the…
Legal Compliance Guidance
Question:
May a company and its private foundation share employees?
Answer:
Yes, so long as any arrangement between the private foundation and the sponsoring company is structured in a way that does not violate the prohibition against self-dealing.
Corporate foundations and their sponsoring…
Fundamentals
The following are some of the models that are used for staffing family foundations. Many families use variations on these models or a combination of them. Any of them can be effective, depending on what is important to the family. The two major considerations, and they are linked, are: how much…
Fundamentals
Looking for the single best way to manage a family foundation? You may be looking for a long time. Because family foundations are unique within the foundation world, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to management. Each family creates its own rules and structures for its foundation, allowing for…