CPF was created by Oriente Foundation, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and Engenheiro António de Almeida Foundation. CPF is the only National Foundations Association in Portugal with 100 members including the five biggest Portuguese foundations.
Its mission is to establish cooperation among its members, promote their interests, organise seminars and conferences, defend the Foundation's interests within the government, spread information among the associate members, and maintain contact with European associations and federations, and other international foundations.