The Council on Foundations regularly conducts surveys on administrative expenses, salaries, and other topics.
However, much of the research is available to member foundations only. The following description of research at
Member Access. As a benefit of membership, Council members can access further research information, such as salary
tables and administrative expenses data.
The Council�s Research department conducts many surveys designed to increase the level of knowledge among Council
members and other organizations about the board, staff and endowment management practices of foundations and
corporate foundations/giving programs.
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2001 Salary and Benefits Report Executive Summary (PDF 20K)
Executive Summary for Management Series, 9th Edition
The Research department has three main areas of activity: conducting surveys, managing special projects in program
evaluation and investment management and fulfilling special information requests from members. The three main
survey reports published by the Research Department include the following:
The Foundation Management Series: These reports keep grantmakers abreast of information and trends in foundation
administration expenses, investment management practices, board compensation and other governance issues, and
staffing and program issues.
Grantmakers Salary and Benefits Report: This report, released annually, contains information on benefits and salary
administration and compensation levels for 40 positions in four different types of grantmaking foundations or
corporate foundations/giving programs.
Community Foundations in the United States Status Report: This biennial survey-based resource provides extensive
information on community foundation assets by fund type, gifts by fund type and donor source, grants,
administrative expenses and administrative revenue. A separate document presents functional expense
ratios�financial and activity benchmarks that enable community foundations to assess their management and fiscal
practices.
The Research department also works with outside experts in investment management and program evaluation to develop
special publications, such as Spending Policies and Investment Planning for Foundations: A Structure for
Determining a Foundation�s Asset Mix and Evaluation for Foundations: Concepts, Cases, Guidelines and Resources.
The department also provides information that supports the research efforts of regional associations of grantmakers
(RAGs) and affinity groups.
Many other departments of the Council also engage in research studies, appearing as books, position papers and
survey reports. Notable examples include the Legal Compendium for Community Foundations and Measuring the Business
Value of Corporate Philanthropy.