Council on Foundations

NEW YORK, November 10, 2009, The Wall Street Journal — The wealthy and their advisers aren't the only ones riled by the lack of certainty over next year's estate tax. Charities also have a big stake.

CHICAGO, September 17, 2009 — Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, the largest independent nonprofit advisory service of its kind, today announced the opening of an office in Chicago to serve donors across the Midwest. The move, which will significantly expand the scope of professional philanthropy services available to donors and their financial and legal advisors, builds on the firm’s longtime activities and growing client base in the region.

ARLINGTON, Va., August 3, 2009 — Even before calls for increased transparency and accountability among foundations, community foundations led the way in self-regulation with the establishment in 2000 of the National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations, a first-of-its-kind voluntary program. Today, with more than 450 community foundations in compliance with the National Standards, the Council on Foundations announces the creation of the Community Foundations National Standards Board – a new organization that will now administer the National Standards accreditation process.

Three senators introduced legislation Tuesday intended to encourage foundations to give away more of their money.

Social entrepreneur Daniel Ben-Horin, whose multimillion dollar San Francisco business TechSoup Global connects charities to computer companies, sees an upside to the economic downturn.

The Council on Foundations has decided to oppose President Obama’s proposal to limit the tax break wealthy Americans get for charitable deductions, fearing that it would dampen giving, Steve Gunderson, the group’s president, said today.

The North Carolina Symphony has all the money it needs. But in this economy, the orchestra isn't allowed to touch it.