The Council on Foundations, a trade association representing approximately 1,000 nonprofits, launched a campaign Monday called “Generosity Builds” timed to the nation’s 250th anniversary. The initiative encourages member foundations to emphasize their positive contributions to American life and to counter what the organization describes as a damaging “perception gap.”
Kathleen Enright, the Council’s CEO, said popular notions of philanthropy as merely a game for the ultrawealthy to fund partisan projects and commit fraud have left the sector vulnerable to political attacks. According to the Associated Press, Enright said the sector faces heightened scrutiny from the federal government and populist movements, and that the sector’s “perception gap” is influencing policies that hamper essential community services.
A 2023 report from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy indicated that only about 1 in 20 adults said they or anyone in their immediate family had received nonprofit services in the past year. Enright believes most Americans do not recognize their reliance on the charitable sector, the AP reported.
The campaign comes amid a broader national conversation about the role of foundations and charitable giving. MSI previously reported on the “America Gives” push launched in January 2026 to encourage year-round volunteering as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary observances.