foundation center: estimates for 2000 foundation giving
In a year that saw unbounded confidence in the nation's
economy turn to increasing uncertainty, U.S. grantmaking
foundations raised their contributions to nonprofit organi-
zations a record $4.3 billion, according to a new report
from the Foundation Center.
FOUNDATION CENTER NEWS FLASH
March 27, 2001
Foundation Center Announces Estimates for 2000
Foundation Giving
Giving Up Over 18%, Following 20% Jump in 1999
In a year that saw unbounded confidence in the nation's
economy turn to increasing uncertainty, U.S. grantmaking
foundations raised their contributions to nonprofit organi-
zations a record $4.3 billion, according to a new report
from the Foundation Center. Foundations gave an estimated
$27.6 billion in 2000, up 18.4 percent (14.6 percent after
inflation) over the $23.3 billion in giving now reported
for 1999. Overall, giving has doubled since 1996. Community
foundations experienced the fastest growth in giving in the
latest year, followed closely by independent foundations.
However, growth in corporate foundation giving slowed,
already reflecting declining corporate profits and stock
values.
The nearly one-fifth rise in 2000 giving followed five
straight years of double-digit increases in the value of
foundation assets. Between 1995 and 1999, foundation assets
doubled from $226.7 billion to $448.6 billion. In 1999
alone, assets rose by $63.6 billion, or 16.5 percent.
Dramatic gains in the value of holdings of several major
independent foundations, new gifts into foundations (in-
cluding a record $32.1 billion in 1999), and accelerated
growth in foundation creation -- above 7 percent in 1999
-- have all contributed to an unprecedented run up in
foundation assets.
These findings are presented in "Foundation Growth and
Giving Estimates: 2000 Preview," part of the Foundation
Center's Foundations Today Series of annual research re-
ports. This 12-page summary provides a "first look" at
2000 giving together with aggregate 1999 giving and asset
data for the more than 50,000 grantmaking foundations
tracked by the Center. Projections for 2000 are based on
figures reported by 1,660 large and mid-size foundations,
combined with year-end fiscal indicators. The Center will
release a more in-depth examination of 1999 foundation
growth trends in "Foundation Yearbook: Facts and Figures
on Private and Community Foundations," available in June.
An analysis of giving by program area in 1999 for a sample
of 1,016 larger foundations (accounting for half of all
giving) is available in "Foundation Giving Trends: Update
on Funding Priorities, 2001 Edition."
Follow the link below to the complete 12-page report
(PDF format):
http://fdncenter.org/research/trends_analysis/pdf/fgge01.pdf
Or, click here for the press release: