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Council on Foundations
Council on Foundations reported $12.9 million in revenue and $13.5 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $81.66 went to program services, $14.50 to management and general costs and $3.84 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 65.3% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $690,150 (President & CEO). 26 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 1% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $13MFor context, the median across 1,001 covered philanthropy, voluntarism & grantmaking charities: $91.65 programs, $6.50 management, $1.85 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $13MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 81.7% | 90.2% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 14.5% | 6.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 3.8% | 1.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.06 | $0.02 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 65.3% | 79.9% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 28.7% | 0.0% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $690,150 | $325,675 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 5.13% | 1.56% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 26 | 3 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 28.3 | 56.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 14 of 14 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseMember services - the Council provides educational programs and resources about the issues and topics most impacting philanthropy, ensuring that our members have the tools they need to develop better ways of operating. The Council also provides networking opportunities, facilitates professional development, and builds bridges between foundations across the country and around the world. Through this work, the council seeks opportunities to partner with peer philanthropy serving organizations and amplify their work
Strategic Communications - the Council shares the good work of philanthropy with our members, sector partners, media, and government through digital communications channels, publications, and knowledge products. We provide foundations with the information, resources, and connections they need to improve their practice and learn from their peers
Public Policy - the Council is a leading advocacy organization for the philanthropic sector and builds strong relationships with policy makers and regulators in order to advocate for laws and regulations that advance the greater good, enable diverse philanthropic endeavors to thrive, and spur the growth of charitable giving without increasing wealth inequality. With respect to our advocacy efforts, any activities that meet the definition of lobbying are reported on supplemental Schedule C
Highest reported compensation
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| President & CEO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $607,133 | $0 | $83,017 | $690,150 |
| VP, People, Equity & Operations Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $242,744 | $0 | $36,108 | $278,852 |
| Exec.VP Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $231,338 | $0 | $39,976 | $271,314 |
| VP, Membership, Development, & Finance Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $224,193 | $0 | $39,566 | $263,759 |
| VP, Government Affairs & Legal Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $199,675 | $0 | $44,626 | $244,301 |
| VP, Communications & Content Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $196,620 | $0 | $37,871 | $234,491 |
| VP, Programs & Peer Engagement Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $171,106 | $0 | $46,254 | $217,360 |
| Senior Advisor, Community Philanthropy Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $157,537 | $0 | $36,108 | $193,645 |
26 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Council on Foundations (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $2.0M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2024 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b14 · 14 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 559
- Volunteers Part I, line 6150
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Hilton Chicago (Park US Lessee Holdings Conference Services | $656,630 |
| CliftonLarsonAllen LLP Accounting Services | $194,966 |
| VanDamme Associates Inc- Nimble User- AR IT Services | $183,846 |
| Colmena Collective Benefits LLC Consulting Services | $160,967 |
| University of Florida Consulting Services | $139,078 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 8 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
98 private foundations reported grants to Council on Foundations totaling $4.9M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Council on Foundations's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Council on Foundations, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Council on Foundations spent in 2024, $81.66 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Heart of West Michigan United WayGrand Rapids, MI · revenue $13M · programs 84.7% · FY2025
- Helvetas USAWashington, DC · revenue $13M · programs 95.2% · 2025
- VisionspringNew York, NY · revenue $13M · programs 75.0% · 2024
- University of South Florida Institute of Applied EngineeringTampa, FL · revenue $13M · programs 53.2% · FY2025
- Community Foundation of West KyincPaducah, KY · revenue $13M · programs 94.0% · 2024
All philanthropy, voluntarism & grantmaking charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of Council on Foundations's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Council on Foundations reported that 81.7% of its $13.5 million in expenses went to program services, 14.5% to management and general and 3.8% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Council on Foundations pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Council on Foundations reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $690,150, for the role of President & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Council on Foundations get its money?
Of $12.9 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 65.3% came from contributions and grants and 28.7% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Council on Foundations a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 13-6068327 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202543149349302344 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202403129349301210 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202313179349302146 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202223119349303157 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202103149349301205 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202023219349304692 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 13-6068327: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.