Private foundations are a special niche of the nonprofit sector. They are allowed to remain relatively tax-exempt in exchange for supporting charitable activities. There are more than 50,000–and growing–private foundations in the United States holding assets worth more than $230 billion. Private foundations are subject to a unique and complex set of (mostly tax) regulations that govern everything from how much money they give away to their investment policies and procedures. This much needed, annually updated manual explicates a wide range of tax rules and regulations for these foundations and prepares them for the increasing scrutiny of the IRS.

私人基金会是非营利部门的一个特殊领域。他们被允许保持相对免税，以换取对慈善活动的支持。美国有5万多家私人基金会——而且还在不断增长——持有价值超过2300亿美元的资产。私人基金会受到一套独特而复杂的（主要是税收）法规的约束，这些法规管理着从他们捐赠多少资金到他们的投资政策和程序的一切。这本急需的、每年更新的手册详细说明了这些基金会的一系列税收规则和条例，并为美国国税局日益严格的审查做好准备。