Mar 31, 2015

The Foundation Review;

This article presents the results of a survey launched in January 2014 by Foundation Center, in collaboration with the National Network of Consultants to Grantmakers, examining use of consultants by community, corporate, and independent foundations whose annual giving totals at least $100,000.The survey asked funders to report whether they used consultants in the past two years and, if so, how frequently and for what purposes; they were also asked to report their level of satisfaction with consultants' work. Funders that did not engage consultants in the last two years were asked why not. The survey also sought open-ended responses about working with consultants.The survey found widespread use of consultants among foundations. While the results of this study tend to emphasize the benefits -- taking advantage of external expertise, allowing staff to stay focused on what they do best, bringing fresh or neutral perspectives to the work -- respondents were also clear that working with consultants has its challenges.

Jun 01, 2012

Accelerating School Activity Promotion;

Giving by U.S. foundations totaled an estimated $46.9 billion in 2011, surpassing the $46.8 billion pre-recession peak recorded in 2008. Yet, after accounting for inflation, contributions by the nation's more than 76,600 foundations were down slightly from 2010. According to Foundation Growth and Giving Estimates (2012 Edition), if the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation were excluded from the totals, 2011 giving would actually have gone down by roughly 3 percent after inflation.Key 2011 estimates include:Independent and family foundations -- which represent the vast majority of U.S. foundations -- increased their charitable contributions by less than 2 percent to $33.1 billion before inflation.Corporate foundation giving rose 6 percent to $5.2 billion before inflation, surpassing other types of foundations.Community foundation giving declined slightly and totaled $4.2 billion before inflation.

Jun 01, 2012

Donors Forum; Foundation Center;

Illinois is home to more than 4,000 grantmaking foundations and their giving totaled a record $2.4 billion in 2010. Giving in Illinois provides a detailed examination of the size and scope of the Illinois foundation community and documents the giving priorities of Illinois and non-Illinois foundations giving in the state. The report was produced by the Foundation Center in cooperation with Donors Forum.

Feb 03, 2012

Foundation Center;

America's family foundations gave $20.6 billion in 2010, but their total giving did not reach its pre-recession peak of $21.1 billion in 2008. According to the Foundation Center's Key Facts on Family Foundations, the 1.1 percent increase in family foundation giving between 2009 and 2010 marks a reversal of the previous year's 3.4 percent decline. The report examines family foundation giving by issue area, type of support, population group served, and geographic location. It also details differences in the size of the boards of family foundations.

Jan 01, 2012

Foundation Center;

In 2009, Georgia foundation assets held steady at nearly $11 billion. Charitable giving by the state's foundations grew a surprising 7 percent as a result of increased giving by several significant funders. Key Facts on Georgia Foundations provides the latest statistical data and snapshot views of Georgia foundations' total giving and assets, as well as their giving patterns outlined by major subject and support type.

Dec 15, 2011

Foundation Center;

Foundation Yearbook, 2011 Edition, provides an overview of the state of foundation giving in the current year and beyond, comparisons of foundation activities by foundation size, and breakdowns of foundation resources by geographic location and grantmaker type. Foundation Yearbook is part of the Foundations Today Series of annual research reports on foundation growth and trends in foundation giving. The edition's key findings include:Overall foundation giving was nearly unchanged from 2009 at $45.7 billion.Foundation assets rose by 4.7 percent to an estimated $618.1 billion in 2010.Foundation giving in 2011 is expected to remain flat.

Nov 17, 2011

Foundation Center;

In the second half of 2008, the United States experienced a severe economic downturn. Often called the global Financial Crisis, it is considered by many economists to be the worst financial crisis since the great Depression. In the United States, the effects of the downturn were felt across every sector of our economy and society.This report both identifies the major immediate impacts of the 2008 financial crisis on social justice philanthropy and takes a look into the future. It aims to provide new and useful information to both funders and nonprofit organizations seeking funds. Foundations active in the social justice arena can use this information to strategize, inside their institutions and with their peers, about ways to bring additional, urgently needed funding to the field. For nonprofits, the information presented here is crucial to their planning efforts and their ability overall to weather the storm

Oct 20, 2011

Foundation Center;

Foundation Giving Trends, 2011 Edition, documents the grantmaking patterns of a sample of the largest private and community foundations in 2009 and tracks changes in funding trends since 1999. The report examines giving (based on grant authorizations when available) by subject focus, recipient type, type of support, population group served, and geographic focus. It also details differences in funding trends by foundation region and type. Foundation Giving Trends is part of the Foundations Today Series of annual research reports on foundation growth and trends in foundation giving.

Oct 04, 2011

Foundation Center;

More foundations are using their investment assets to achieve their missions, according to Key Facts on Mission Investing, which finds that one-in-seven surveyed foundations are employing market-rate mission-related investments and/or below-market-rate program-related investments to achieve a social benefit. More than half of those making mission-related investments began doing so within the past five years.

Sep 01, 2011

Foundation Center;

Nearly ninety percent of America's largest foundations report that at least some of the nonprofit organizations they support have been severely affected by state budget cuts. One-quarter report having grantees that have been forced to suspend operations. Foundation Leaders Address the State Budget Crises is the latest report in a series based on surveys of our Grantmaker Leadership Panel and also includes an essay, "How Grantmakers Can Respond to the State Budget Crises," by Doug Bauer, executive director of New York's Clark Foundation.

Apr 15, 2011

Foundation Center;

Analyzes sixty-six funders' online application and reporting requirements, including format; quantity and quality of instructional information; procedures, questions, and requirements; and technical and structural difficulties. Recommends best practices.

Mar 22, 2011

Foundation Center; Native Americans in Philanthropy;

Over the past decade, U.S. foundation support benefiting Native Americans declined from 0.5 percent to 0.3 percent of total foundation giving. According to Foundation Funding for Native American Issues and Peoples, total grant dollars targeting Native Americans dropped 30.8 percent in the latest year, compared to a 14.1 percent overall downturn in foundation giving. This report was prepared by the Foundation Center with Native Americans in Philanthropy.

Jan 18, 2011

Foundation Center; Grantmakers of Oregon and Southwest Washington;

This report, prepared by the Foundation Center at the request of Grantmakers of Oregon and Southwest Washington, examines the extent to which domestically focused grantmaking by Oregon foundations in 2008 reached Oregon's communities of color, and situates this in the context of the state's changing demographics.

Dec 01, 2010

Council on Foundations; Foundation Center;

Giving by U.S. foundations for international purposes held virtually steady last year, generating $6.7 billion, down just 4 percent. According to International Grantmaking Update: A Snapshot of U.S. Foundation Trends, a new report prepared by the Foundation Center in cooperation with the Council on Foundations, this decrease was less than half the 8.4 percent estimated decline in foundation giving overall last year. This latest update of the Foundation Center's benchmark series on international grantmaking examines changes in overall giving through 2009 based on a survey of leading funders. It also documents trends in giving through 2008 based on actual grants awarded by over 1,000 of the largest U.S. foundations.

Oct 01, 2010

Foundation Center;

In recent years, the field of philanthropy has been the subject of a number of research studies, reports on "best practices," and at least two state-level legislative initiatives. In July 2010, the Foundation Center surveyed members of its Grantmaker Leadership Panel to gauge the reaction of foundation leaders to such developments. Completed surveys were received from 73 of 228 current Panel members, for a response rate of 32 percent.

Sep 03, 2010

Foundation Center;

In 2008, Georgia foundation assets dropped 18 percent over the previous year. Charitable giving by the state's foundations also reflected the effects of the economic crisis by declining 1.6 percent during the same period. Key Facts on Georgia Foundations provides the latest statistical data and snapshot views of Georgia foundations' total giving and assets, as well as their giving patterns outlined by major subject and support type.