Foundations and Their Role in Philanthropy

This resource list is intended for anyone who wants to know more about foundations, their giving, and their role in philanthropy and the nonprofit sector. It contains citations to selected works from the Foundation Center's bibliographic database, Catalog of Nonprofit Literature (CNL), and lists Internet Resources as well. For additional materials on the topic, search CNL with "foundations" in the Subject field (click here). Many of these items can be found at our five Library/Learning Centers.

Learn more by taking our free online or classroom training courses on the subject.

World of Foundations

Brown, Melissa S., ed. Giving USA. Indianapolis, IN: AAFRC Trust for Philanthropy, annual.

Statistical analysis of charitable contributions by corporations, foundations, individuals, and through bequests. Also provides data about charitable recipients.

Edie, John A. First Steps in Starting a Foundation. 5th ed. Washington, DC: Council on Foundations, 2001.

Discusses in non-technical language the various types of organizations that are all generally labeled as foundations by the public, and the requirements for establishing, and regulations governing, each type.

Foundation Center; Collins, Sarah (ed.) Foundation Fundamentals. 8th ed. New York, NY: Foundation Center, 2008.

A primer designed to clarify the grantseeking process and to help grantseekers utilize information resources in locating appropriate funders.

Freeman, David, John A. Edie, and Jane C. Nober. The Handbook on Private Foundations. 3rd ed. Washington, DC: Council on Foundations, 2005.

Provides practical information on most aspects of foundations, including history, reasons for creating a foundation, the grantmaking process, governance and administration, tax regulations and legal issues, and management of assets.

Kibbe, Barbara D., Fred Setterberg, and Colburn S. Wilbur. Grantmaking Basics: A Field Guide for Funders. Washington, DC: Council on Foundations, 1999.

Written for staff from any type of foundation, the authors cover the typical work and workday of a grantmaker, how to review grant proposals, how to say no, how to assess nonprofit budgets, communications with the board and others, and how to develop professionally. Worksheets and sample forms are provided. The Council on Foundations published Grantmaking Basics II in 2004.

McIlnay, Dennis P. How Foundations Work. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 1998.

Author postulates that there are six identities of foundations: judges, editors, citizens, activists, entrepreneurs, and partners. Understanding these roles provides a new way to comprehend foundations' complex and sometimes contradictory nature.

Orosz, Joel J. The Insider's Guide to Grantmaking: How Foundations Find, Fund, and Manage Effective Programs. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Publishers, 2000.

Written primarily for program officers of foundations, the author provides a brief history on foundations, their structure, and their role in society.

Renz, Loren, and Steven A. Lawrence. Foundations Today Series. New York: The Foundation Center, annual.

A three-part annual series that provides comprehensive statistical analysis of foundation growth and giving trends, incorporating a summary of data collected by the Foundation Center since 1980.

Internet Resources

Council on Foundations cof.org

This national nonprofit membership organization for grantmakers offers information useful for grantseekers as well, organized into broad subject categories.

Foundation Center's Find Funders Section

Provides a range of powerful tools to get you started with your funding prospect research, including Foundation Finder, 990 Finder, The Foundation Directory Online, Search RFPs, and more.

Foundation Center's Research Studies.

These funding trends reports provide the latest data available on every aspect of U.S. foundation philanthropy.
National Trends
Regional Trends

The Future of Philanthropy

Project designed to explore possible future scenarios for foundations and U.S. philanthropy in the 21st Century.

Giving Institute (formerly AAFRC Trust for Philanthropy)

Contains information about philanthropy, including charts on distribution of funds to private nonprofit organizations.

Family Foundations

Esposito, Virginia (ed.) Splendid Legacy: The Guide to Creating Your Family Foundation. Washington, DC: National Center for Family Philanthropy, 2002.

The book is composed of contributions by various specialists on topics ranging from start-up to grantmaking, and is illustrated throughout with examples and lessons from those involved with family philanthropies. Some of the issues discussed include founder's vision, values and ethics; legal concerns; how to fund the foundation; governance; use of consultants; investments; establishing grantmaking priorities; and public relations.

Family Foundation Library: Management, Governance, Grantmaking, Family Issues. 4 vols. Washington, DC: Council on Foundations, 1997.

Four volumes of basic information of interest to family foundations. Each volume includes sample forms and policies.

Gast, Elaine C. The Guide to Small Foundation Management—From Groundwork to Grantmaking. Washington, DC: Council on Foundations, 2002.

Written for family foundations and those with less than $10 million in assets, the book summarizes good operating principles and practices. Beginning with the need for mission and vision statements, the author provides non-technical coverage of legal issues, setting up an office, technology, records management, accounting, investments, boards, staff, consultants, grants management, communication, and networking.

McCoy, Jerry J. and Kathryn W. Miree. Family Foundation Handbook. New York, NY: Panel Publishers, 2001.

A handbook for financial and legal advisors to family philanthropies, but also provides information and guidance of interest to laypeople. Covers basic legal and fiscal matters such as tax benefits, types of foundations, supporting organizations, the steps to creating a foundation, the role of charitable trusts, structure and governance of the philanthropy, operating restrictions, grantmaking, administration, and special issues.

Internet Resources

National Center for Family Philanthropy

Corporate Foundations and Corporate Giving

Abshire, Michael, ed. Giving by Industry: A Reference Guide to the New Corporate Philanthropy. 2003 ed. Gaithersburg, MD: Aspen Publishers, 2002.

Details the primary corporate givers within 20 industry categories and provides examples of the most common type of philanthropy.

Corporate Giving Directory. Farmington Hills, MI: The Taft Group, annual.

Contains profiles of more than 1,000 corporate giving programs making contributions of at least $200,000 annually.

Matching Gift Details: Profiles of More Than 7,500 Companies with Matching Gift Programs. Washington, DC: Council for Advancement and Support of Education, annual.

Lists corporations that match employee gifts to nonprofit institutions.

Muirhead, Sophia A. Corporate Contributions Report. New York, NY: Conference Board, annual.

Summarizes the results of the Conference Board's annual survey of corporations.

National Directory of Corporate Giving. New York, NY: The Foundation Center, annual.

A directory of nearly 4,000 corporations that make contributions to nonprofit organizations through corporate foundations or direct-giving programs.

Internet Resources

Charity Aid Foundation's CCInet

Links to hundreds of corporate Web sites focusing on giving and community relations.

Hoovers: The Business Network

Links to more than 4,000 corporate Web sites with information on more than 12 million public and private enterprises.

PR Newswire

News from corporations worldwide; frequently contains information on major corporate gifts.

Laws Regulating Foundations

Beggs, Sara and Miranda Perry. Legal Essentials for Small Foundations. Washington, DC: Association of Small Foundations. 2006.

Discusses legal issues related to grantmaking, operations, administration, investment, and termination.

Edie, John A. Corporate Giving and the Law: Steering Clear of Trouble. 3rd ed. Washington, DC: Council on Foundations, 2002.

Written primarily for corporate giving officers, this handbook identifies legal and regulatory problem areas. Provides a brief explanation of basic rules and recommends additional sources for more in-depth examination. Includes chapters on company foundations versus corporate giving programs, rules for charitable deductions, state and federal requirements, self dealing, domestic grants, international grants, and the use of legal counsel.

Edie, John A. Expenditure Responsibility Step By Step. Washington, DC: Council on Foundations, 2002.

Outlines and discusses the five steps to fulfilling the Internal Revenue Service requirements for expenditure responsibility, and explains when funders need to enact this particular procedure in order to avoid tax penalty.

Hopkins, Bruce R. and Jody Blazek. The Legal Answer Book for Private Foundations. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2002.

Provides quick answers in FAQ format for officers, lawyers, and accountants of private foundations. The major topics covered include basic definitions, self-dealing, payout requirements, business holdings, investments, taxable expenditures, unrelated business activities, disclosure rules, and termination, among others.

Hopkins, Bruce R. and Jody Blazek. Private Foundations: Tax Law and Compliance. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2003.

Intended as a desk reference for lawyers, accountants, and tax practitioners, covers federal tax laws related to the establishment of private foundations. Annual supplement.

"Philanthropy and the Law: A Symposium." Philanthropy 18 (July-August 2004) p. 17-8, 23-34.

Notable nonprofit leaders respond to questions about the current Congressional interest in regulation of the sector. A sidebar excerpts remarks by Senator Charles Grassley, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee. A timeline of Congressional oversight is included. Full texts of statements at the June 22 hearing can be found at: www.finance.senate.gov/sitepages/hearing062204.htm

Panel on the Nonprofit Sector. Interim Report Presented to the Senate Finance Committee, March 1, 2005. Washington, DC: Independent Sector, 2005.

In this interim report, the panel, convened in October 2004, provides its initial recommendations for improving the accountability of nonprofits. Also online: nonprofitpanel.org

Internet Resources

Independent Sector Public Policy Program

This site is especially useful for keeping up with legislative and legal issues. Some information is available to members only.

National Center for Charitable Statistics

NCCS, a program of the Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy at the Urban Institute, is the national repository of data on the nonprofit sector in the U.S.

National Center on Philanthropy and the Law – Nonprofit Legal Bibliography

Nonprofit Resource Center Legal Links

Includes lists of recommended books related to nonprofit legal issues, and links to numerous federal and state Web resources.

Panel on the Nonprofit Sector

Convened by Independent Sector in response to Senate Finance Committee's scrutiny of nonprofit accountability.

Commercial Donor Advised Funds

Blum, Debra E. "Tailor-Made for Charity." Chronicle of Philanthropy 14 (30 May 2002): p. 7-10.

Describes the recent increase in the number of commercial donor-directed funds that nonprofits and financial services companies can buy to market under their own names.

Kerkman, Leah, Cassie J. Moore, and Brad Wolverton. "A Soaring Year: Assets at Donor-Advised Funds Rose by More Than 20 Percent." Chronicle of Philanthropy 18 (4 May 2006): p. 27-31.

Presents results from the Chronicle's annual survey of donor-advised funds. Charts provide asset and distribution information from commercial funds, community foundations, and other groups for fiscal year 2005.

Philanthropy—History

Billitteri, Thomas J. "Donors Big and Small Propelled Philanthropy in the 20th Century." Chronicle of Philanthropy 12 (13 January 2000): p. 29-32.

A concise history of major events in the development of American philanthropy in the twentieth century, including growth of foundations and nonprofits, increases in fundraising, and tax and legal changes.

Brilliant, Eleanor L. Private Charity and Public Inquiry: A History of the Filer and Peterson Commissions. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press, 2000.

Based on archival evidence, provides a history of the Commission on Foundations and Private Philanthropy (the Peterson Commission) and the Commission on Private Philanthropy and Public Needs (the Filer Commission). The former existed between 1969-70, while the latter was active from 1973-77. Examines the historical context in which the commissions were established, the role of John D. Rockefeller 3rd, the details of their hearings, their ultimate conclusions, and ongoing impacts.

Burlingame, Dwight F. (ed.) Philanthropy in America: A Comprehensive Historical Encyclopedia. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2004.

More than 175 contributors provide essays on the people, organizations, and concepts of the nonprofit sector in the first and second volumes of this work. A third volume is a documentary history, organized in chronological order. Indexed.

Kiger, Joseph C. Philanthropic Foundations in the Twentieth Century. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2000.

A comprehensive treatment of the development of foundations in modern times. Provides a narrative of the worldwide historical antecedents to the growth of modern foundations. Details the numerous investigations of the field, including the Walsh Commission in 1915, the Cox Committee in 1952, the Patman Investigation that began in 1961, and the Filer Commission, whose results were published in 1977. Discusses the expansion of the field, the characteristics of governance and personnel, supervision by governmental bodies, international activities, and the development of the third sector abroad.

Periodicals on Foundations—A Selected Listing

Advancing Philanthropy. Association of Fundraising Professionals, 1101 King Street, Suite 700, Alexandria, VA 22314. Bimonthly.

Trends and issues impacting philanthropy and fundraising and new ideas and success stories.

Chronicle of Philanthropy. 1255 23rd Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037. Biweekly.

Reports on issues and trends in the nonprofit sector, covering corporate and individual giving, foundation profiles, updates on fundraising campaigns, taxation, regulation, and management.

Corporate Philanthropy Report. LRP Publications, Inc., 360 Hiatt Dr., Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418. Monthly.

Articles on issues and trends, descriptions of current giving by companies and industries, and news items.

Foundation News & Commentary. Council on Foundations, 1828 L Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20036. Bimonthly.

Articles on grantmaking activities, foundation leaders and people in the news, and trends in the field.

Nonprofit Quarterly. Third Sector New England, 18 Tremont St., #700, Boston, MA 02108. Quarterly.

Articles on diverse topics related to nonprofits.

NonProfit Times. 120 Littleton Road, Suite 120, Parsippany, New Jersey 07054-1803. Monthly.

News articles focusing on trends, legislation, fundraising, and management of nonprofits.

Philanthropy. Philanthropy Roundtable, 1150 17th Street, NW, Suite 503, Washington, DC 20036. Bimonthly.

Articles directed to donors.

Online Journals

Internet Prospector

Monthly newsletter focusing on information for prospect researchers.

Nonprofit Online News

A compilation of current news in the nonprofit area, with added opinions and observations.

Philanthropy Journal Online

Daily updates of news for the nonprofit sector, including jobs.

Philanthropy News Digest

Weekly summary of news about philanthropy, taken from the popular press.