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This year’s trends share a familiar wealth of examples, data, quotes, and research publications that can help us all anticipate the vectors of change. But at the core of 11 Trends in Philanthropy for 2024, readers will find a set of questions rather than answers. Each trend poses a number of moral, economic, equity-related, tactical, and other questions that the sector will have to answer.
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- Advocacy & Public Policy (15)
- Emerging Practice (5)
- Asset Development (1)
- Community Philanthropy (7)
- Corporate Philanthropy (4)
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (11)
- Family Philanthropy (5)
- Finance & Investment (6)
- Grantmaking & Evaluation (8)
- Impact Investing (3)
- Operations & Legal Issues (10)
- Sector Leadership & Collaboration (15)
- Youth Philanthropy (4)
explore our Knowledge center
Browse these timely, relevant resources curated by our team of experts to deepen your knowledge of best practices, data insights and more. If you have suggested resources for inclusion in the Knowledge Center please contact our team.
Sustaining Maturing Foundations
Recognizing that much of the educational material available nationally to assist foundations is designed for foundation orientations – to assist those just getting started – this resource alternatively focuses on the needs of executives, staff and board members of maturing foundations.
CMF 2023 Annual Report: Embracing Differences & Bridging Divides
In this edition of CMF’s Annual Report, you will read about how your peers in rural, urban and suburban communities are bringing people together across a spectrum of issues, perspectives and lived experiences
Board Term Limits
Boards serve an essential governance role within foundations. Each board varies in terms of its policies and procedures depending on the structure required to achieve its strategic goals and organizational mission.
What Boards and Executives Need to Know: Reasonable Compensation
This resource outlines recommended and required elements of this process, the details of a compensation package, special considerations in considering raises and bonuses, and much more.
What Boards and Executives Need to Know: Self-Dealing
While private foundations have strict rules for self-dealing among disqualified persons, many of these rules are well-established best practices for other grantmakers and public charities.
What Boards and Executives Need to Know: Foundations
Board members and staff of philanthropic institutions regularly reach out to CMF to learn more about the various types of grantmaking foundations.
What Boards and Executives Need to Know: Succession Planning
Board members and staff of philanthropic institutions regularly reach out to CMF to learn more about succession planning. The Ask CMF team has curated the following resources for organizations considering how to plan for a hypothetical or forthcoming transition for executive positions.
What Boards and Executives Need to Know: Executive Searches
Board members and staff of philanthropic institutions regularly reach out to CMF to learn more about executive searches.
Ten Essential Responsibilities of Foundation Board Chairs
This 22-page resource will help new and seasoned board chairs understand their 10 essential responsibilities and gain practical tips for carrying them out. The responsibilities are adaptable to all foundation types: family, community, private/independent, or unstaffed.
Principles for Good Governance and Ethical Practice: A Guide for Charities and Foundations
This edition provides considerable new value, reflecting changes in law as well as new circumstances in which the charitable sector functions, and new relationships within and between sectors.
Benchmarking Foundation Governance
Benchmarking Foundation Governance shares data and infographics on crucial topics related to foundation governance — including composition, member expertise, structure, involvement, and characteristics of meetings.
10 Things Every New Foundation Board Member Should Know
The Council on Foundations, in collaboration with BoardSource, has produced an easy-to-use guide for new foundation board members.