Council on Foundations

Council President and CEO Kathleen Enright speaks to growing skepticism and mistrust of charitable giving, the importance of donor intent and mission diversity, and the distinction between lawful oversight and politicized criticism of the sector.

Read more. www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/202...

Career Pathways Program Applications are OPEN Join the Council's flagship leadership development program for mid- to senior-level philanthropic professionals. APPLY TODAY

Career Pathways program applications are now OPEN!

Learn, grow, and build a powerful network with peers across the country. Apply now! cof.org/career-pathw...

Know someone who would be a great fit for the program? Tag them in the comments!

New year, new programming for #BuildingTogether2026! The peer-led session schedule is now available online.

Check out the schedule: cof.org/building-tog...

Register by January 15 to take advantage of the lowest price for Council members. cof.org/building-tog...

The early registration countdown begins! 10 days left for Council members to get the best price on #BuildingTogether2026 registration.

Register before January 15: cof.org/building-tog...

As Americans Look for Unity, The Charitable Sector Provides a Model As the United States confronts the limits of its own divisions, it can feel as though blame has replaced problem-solving in nearly every area of public life. That perception has led to public trust in...

In a moment when polarization dominates headlines, findings from our recent national survey tell a clear story: Americans still believe in the power of working together.

Read more about this work in an op-ed from Council President and CEO Kathleen Enright. thefulcrum.us/civic-engage...

Looking for a supportive community to help you navigate challenging conversations and build understanding across differences?

Apply to become a part of the 2026 Bridging Differences Leadership Cohort! Applications are due Friday, February 20, 2026.

Learn more and apply: cof.org/content/brid...

Building Together 2026 - Registration Registration Your conference registration includes all programming from the Monday Welcome Reception through lunch on Thursday. Breakfasts, lunches, and Tuesday dinner are all included.  Registration Rates

Join Horizons at #BuildingTogether2026 in Seattle May 4-7! We're hosting a workshop on integrating the many networks and approaches working towards social change.

Register now. https://lnkd.in/eMgkGgdq
@councilfoundations.bsky.social

Congressman Blake Moore Launches the Bipartisan Philanthropy Caucus to Increase Charitable Giving in Local Communities | U.S. Congressman Blake Moore The Official U.S. Congressional website of Blake Moore of Utah's 1st District

Thank you to Rep. Blake Moore (R-UT) and Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL) for helping launch the bipartisan Congressional Philanthropy Caucus.

Together, let’s continue to support the work of the charitable sector, and make giving easier, not harder! blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-... #GivingIsHereForGood

Council on Foundations Building Together 2026 Bridge Builder Scholarship Apply by December 8

Want to attend #BuildingTogether2026 but working with a tight professional development budget?

The Bridge Builder Scholarship covers registration for Council members who may not otherwise be able to attend the conference.

Applications are due on December 8, 2025. cof.org/building-tog...

Council on Foundations Building Together 2026 Q&A December 4, 2025 2:30 - 3 p.m. ET

🤔 Wondering if #BuildingTogether2026 is for you? Want to get a better idea of what it’s like and what you’ll learn? Join us December 4 from 2:30 - 3 p.m. ET for a Q and A session to hear more about the conference. cof.org/event/q-and-...

YouTube video by The Communications Network WEBINAR: Building Trust With Policymakers Using the Science of Storytelling

ICYMI: @councilfoundations.bsky.social & Center for Public Interest Communications joined us to explore what types of stories are more likely to build trust, what policymakers want to know from foundations, and how to describe the work foundations do in an authentic, accurate, and ethical way.

Foundation Giving in 2026 Predictions for the Year Ahead

Looking ahead to 2026 with @chronphilanthropy.bsky.social, Council President and CEO Kathleen Enright predicts compassion will boost funding.

Read more predictions from leaders across philanthropy. www.philanthropy.com/opinion/foun...

Building Together 2026 May 4-7 | Seattle, WA Register Now Council on Foundations

Registration for #BuildingTogether2026 is now open!

This is your chance to learn and practice the skills and strategies you need for connecting and collaborating across differences.

Join us in Seattle May 4–7. Register now to secure your spot! cof.org/building-tog...

It's almost #CommunityFndWeek! Download the info you need to celebrate and highlight all the work you do to support your community! cof.org/center-commu...

Foundations Continue to Diversify Staff, Increase Women CEO Pay Salaries for women foundation CEOs were 88.1 percent of their male counterparts last year, an increase of nearly 5 percentage points over the previous year, according to a March survey of nearly 1,000...

2025 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Report data shows the gender pay gap among foundation CEOs narrowed, and racial diversity among staff and executives rose.

Read more in @chronphilanthropy.bsky.social. www.philanthropy.com/news/foundat...

Download the report. cof.org/content/2025...

Join the Council and partners Human Rights Funders Network (HRFN) and Philea, for a crucial conversation on the future of funding for global human rights.

Register now: cof.org/event/foreig...

Rural Innovation Can Lead the Way — If We Give It the Chance As federal cuts hit rural places, Gary Wilmot of the LOR Foundation discusses how relatively modest support for often-overlooked rural innovators can pay dividends.

“When rural communities have access to the right resources, I’ve seen them create innovative and effective solutions.”

Read more from Gary Wilmot of LOR Foundation in @insidephilanthropy.com. www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/rural-i...

Council on Foundations 2025 Council Awards Recognizing excellence in philanthropy and honoring leaders who explore creative ways to advance the common good. SUBMIT A NOMINATION

Help us shine a light on exceptional leaders and initiatives by nominating them for the 2025 Council Awards!

Council members can nominate visionary leaders, innovative organizations, outstanding corporate philanthropists, and bridge builders.

Nominations close December 1.
cof.org/program/coun...

Training Better Stories, Better Language A Communications Workshop Series October 30 | November 5 | December 3 Register Now

The Better Stories, Better Language workshop series dives into our research with the Center for Public Interest Communications so you can tell more complex, robust stories about your organization’s work.

Don’t miss out. Register for all three workshops! cof.org/page/better-...

SAVE THE DATES Building Together 2026 The skills you need for the world we're in May 4-7 Seattle Council on Foundations

Don't forget to mark your calendar for Building Together, May 4-7, 2026!

Registration will open soon. Be among the first to know by joining our early access list. cof.org/event/buildi...

Every five years, Community Foundations National Standards conducts a full review with the help of volunteers from community foundations across the country!

Fill out the survey to provide feedback on the CFNS program and volunteer for the 2026 review committee. www.surveymonkey.com/r/3GC2VP7

Council on Foundations NEW! 2025 Grantmaker Salary & Benefits Report The most comprehensive analysis on the composition and compensation of U.S. foundations in the field Download your copy today

🤿Dive even DEEPER into the data.

The GSB Administrative and Program Expense Tables offer even more detailed breakdowns of data by grantmaker type, staff size, geographic location, and asset group.

cof.org/content/2025...

“If we are forgetting how to talk, we need tools that can help us remember. At our community foundation, we convene people regularly around grants and projects; why not also convene around our shared community and how we talk about important issues?” Lola Harmon-Ramsey, Director of Impact and Engagement Fremont Area Community Foundation

The #BuildingTogether conference and the Bridging Differences Leadership Cohort helped shape the Goodwill Project – a local, living lab for civil discourse in rural Michigan.

Read more on the Council blog! cof.org/blogs/blog/2...

The power of data in advocacy: How we show the sector’s impact with numbers Candid insights | Using data in advocacy, learn how National Council of Nonprofits, United Philanthropy Forum, and Council on Foundations conveyed the numeric impacts of H.R. 1 on the nonprofit sector...

Highlighting reliable data from @candiddotorg.bsky.social in our storytelling and advocacy efforts made a real difference in helping lawmakers understand how restricting nonprofits would harm their communities.

Read more. candid.org/blogs/candid...

Council on Foundations Resetting the Table Communicating Across Divides: A Facilitation Intensive Applications due October 24, 2025 Apply Now

Join the Council and Resetting the Table (RTT) for a training intensive designed to strengthen courageous and constructive communication across differences.

Applications are due October 24, and interviews will follow in early November.

Apply now! cof.org/page/communi...

Investing in Constructive Journalism How can philanthropy drive meaningful impact through journalism, without compromising journalistic independence and integrity?

Reminder: These webinars are FREE for Council members and discounted for #leadinglocally2025 attendees – so reach out if you still need your attendee discount code!

Register now: cof.org/event/invest...

Leading Locally All Year Long A webinar series for community foundations and place-based funders Council on Foundations

Our Leading Locally All Year Long webinar series explores topics designed specifically for community foundations and place-based funders.

The next session, "Investing in Constructive Journalism," will be Tuesday, October 28, from 3 to 4 p.m. ET.

Register now: cof.org/event/invest...

Council on Foundations NEW! 2025 Grantmaker Salary & Benefits Report The most comprehensive analysis on the composition and compensation of U.S. foundations in the field Download your copy today

📣 The 2025 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Report is here!

Dive into the latest trends in full-time staff compensation, benefits, demographics, and more across U.S. foundations.

The full report is free to download for Council members, and survey participants. cof.org/content/2025...

With USAID gone, do foundations still care about localization? A year ago, localization was a watchword for everyone in the development sector. After the Trumpquake, does anyone still care?

Short answer? Yes, foundations are sticking to their localization commitments despite current challenges in global philanthropy.

Read more in @devex.com. www.devex.com/news/with-us...

YouTube video by Council on Foundations Leading Locally 2025 - Funding the Urban Rural Connection (Full Recording)

In case you missed it, season three of the Funding Rural podcast hosted by Erin Borla kicked off last week.

Episode one was recorded live on the #LeadingLocally2025 plenary stage.

You can now watch the full session! www.youtube.com/watch?v=4h9c...