FAMILY GIVING NEWS

The Giving Season:
Options and Perspectives for Year-End Philanthropy

PLUS:

Special Section on
Trends in National and Regional Giving
 

December 2003, Volume 3, Issue 12
 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS:

[Click on the section or article title to read article.]

 

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE:
A SPECIAL THANK YOU FROM THE NATIONAL CENTER

 

UP FRONT: THE GIVING SEASON - OPTIONS AND PERSPECTIVES FOR YEAR-END PHILANTHROPY

• Year-End Check-up: Reviewing Your Giving Plan

• Tips for Choosing a Charity

• Family Holidays, Family Giving

• Giving Harmoniously as a Family

• Resisting Temptations: Lessons of Grantmaking

• Massachusetts' Attorney General's Report on 2002 Telemarketing for Charity

• Donors Should Be Wise as Well as Charitable

See also:

• Family Philanthropy and Donor-Advised Funds

• Inspired Philanthropy: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Giving Plan

• Charitable Giving Options

• Engaging in Philanthropy: A Guide for New Donors

• Robin Hood Was Right: A Guide to Giving Your Money for Social Change

WHAT'S NEW AT THE NATIONAL CENTER

• Welcome to New Intern, Judy Weiss

• What California Donors Want: In Their Own Voices

• Demystifying Decision-making in Family Philanthropy

• Family Philanthropy: What We Don't Know

• Special Collections from the National Center

SPOTLIGHT ON...
TRENDS IN NATIONAL AND REGIONAL GIVING

National Trends:

• Philanthropic Giving Index, December 2003

• October 2003 Nonprofit Economic Survey

• The Top Givers

Regional Trends:

• Minnesota Grantmaking 2004 Outlook Report

• Growing Philanthropy Through Giving Circles: Lessons Learned from Start-up to Grantmaking

• A Region of Givers: The Report on Philanthropy in the Greater Washington, DC Region

• Giving Memphis 2003

See also:

• Foundation Giving in the New England Region

• Giving USA 2003

• A Brief History of Philanthropy in America

WHAT'S GOING ON:
CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS

Featured Events:

• What California Donors Want: In Their Own Voices

• 2004 Family Foundations Conference

• Building for Success: FOX 2004 Multi-Family Office Forum

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE:

A SPECIAL THANK YOU FROM THE NATIONAL CENTER'S FAMILY

The Holidays are a particularly appropriate time of year for the Board and staff of the National Center for Family Philanthropy to express our deepest appreciation to all the people who enrich our work, and who have made our work possible.

Your interest in family philanthropy, as well as your generous support for the National Center, has helped us to encourage, support, and strengthen family philanthropy nationally and throughout the world during the past year. We simply could not let this holiday season go by without telling you how grateful we are for your ongoing commitment and generosity.

The challenges that people in the United States, and around the world, are facing rely on the understanding of individuals like yourself who know the importance of the family philanthropy tradition. This tradition is constantly renewed by those who bring a sense of community, encouragement, and caring to their personal commitment to the public good. By embracing this tradition, you help to ensure that the world is a little kinder, a little more just, and a lot better off for your involvement.

The National Center works steadily to strengthen and expand family philanthropy, and we could not be here without your financial support. However, it is your encouragement – your faith – that ensures that we are doing our work with a real sense of purpose and joy. It is truly an honor to have you all as our partners in this effort.

May this be a happy, healthy, and blessed Thanksgiving season for you, and for all who continually help to build the legacy of family philanthropy.

Gratefully,

Virginia M. Esposito

President

UP FRONT: THE GIVING SEASON -

OPTIONS AND PERSPECTIVES FOR

YEAR-END PHILANTHROPY

“Done properly and thoroughly, conducting annual reviews of your charitable giving at year's end can help rekindle the kind of excitement that first inspired your philanthropy.”

Source:

Triangle Community Foundation

YEAR-END CHECK-UP: REVIEWING YOUR GIVING PLAN
http://www.trianglecf.org/content/view_article.xpl?article_id=54

The end of the year is a great time to review one’s goals and strategy for making charitable donations, or, if you don’t have a specific strategy, to develop one.  “A year-end review of your philanthropy can also help you reflect more deeply on why you give and help orient your giving in new directions”, writes the author of this short article, Michael Fitzgerald.

This article asks donors to think about the following questions:

• What did you seek to achieve with your donation, and over what period of time?

• Did your gifts properly reflect your intentions, values and beliefs? In other words, were they spent as you intended or requested-and if not, were you informed?

• Were your donations consistent with your overall financial plan?

Donors may have difficulty finding the information to help answer the questions about grantees. Community foundations, regional associations of grantmakers, Social Venture Partner Networks, and other local donor networks are often good sources for such information.

A year-end review is also a good time to revisit goals and objectives for giving with one’s current financial situation. Finally, at a time of year when many people are caught up in the commercial aspects of giving and receiving, it can be a particularly good time to involve children and focus on charitable giving.

Source:

Guidestar

TIPS FOR CHOOSING A CHARITY
http://www.guidestar.org/about/press/120403.jsp

This handy checklist includes 10 tips for donors who want to give with their heads as well as their hearts. Included are 5 tips on researching charities, and 5 on evaluating charities: from clarifying your values, to trusting your instincts.

FAMILY HOLIDAYS, FAMILY GIVING
http://www.cfsv.org/enewsletter2/8_2.html

Through individual stories and specific ideas, The Community Foundation of Silicon Valley suggests ways to use the holidays to create family giving traditions that will help you and your children to experience the joy and value of philanthropy and volunteering. Tips include talking to your children about the importance of helping others, volunteering together as a family, and setting up a “charity” account so they may help decide where to give.

Ted and Nancy Biangi and their 9 children have been practicing family giving for the past few years.  “This is just one small step. It gets our kids thinking about giving and volunteering,” says Ted. The family has also taken on family projects in the past, including volunteering with Rebuilding Together (formerly Christmas in April) and at local soup kitchens. “Philanthropy should be a part of your life. It’s giving both your time and treasure to help other people,” Ted says.

“Philanthropy should be a part of your life. It’s giving both your time and treasure to help other people.”

Source:

More Than Money

To view,
download
free copy of:

GIVING HARMONIOUSLY AS A FAMILY

(from Issue #34, The Art of Giving)

http://ncfp.org/FGN-Nov_2003/MTM-Giving_Harmoniously_As_Family.pdf

If you’re in a family that gives together, you naturally want the process to go smoothly and harmoniously. But how do you achieve that? Does it mean that everyone goes along with the family leader in order to keep harmony? Does it mean not rocking the boat and not proposing new ideas? Does it mean deferring to someone outside the family in order to keep the peace?

This article by family enterprise consultants Fredda Herz Brown and Katharine Gratwick Baker provides insight on three primary “family patterns” which can disrupt or lead to “harmonious family giving.” Patterns described include the balance of separateness-connectedness; traditional vs. non-traditional roles within families; and the concept of triangles. Each pattern is described through the use of an example with suggested interpretations and possible solutions for the issues being explored.

Source:

Stanford
Social
Innovation
Review

RESISTING TEMPTATIONS: LESSONS ON GRANTMAKING
http://host110.ipowerweb.com/~ssirevie/articles/article.php?which_article=frontlines

Steven Schroeder, the former president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, reflects on lessons learned from his lengthy experience as a grantmaker.  He highlights four points:  focus, implementation of strategy, knowing when to move away from a particular strategy or grantee, and the pursuit of accountability.  While this approach may not be appropriate for everyone, it provides a sounding-board that you may wish to use to hone your own thinking.

Mr. Schroeder begins by suggesting that grantmakers stay as focused as possible and resist the urge to spread their giving too thin. Thinking about what would not get funded is one way to begin to achieve focus.  Secondly, one can spend a lot of time developing and reviewing strategic giving plans, but if the foundation cannot implement the strategy, then it is of no use. As Mr. Schroeder writes, “having unrealistic expectations that set grantees up to fail” is one common mistake often made by donors. Thirdly, there is a delicate balance between supporting grantees long enough to get them off the ground, and sticking with them so long that they become dependent.

Developing new program initiatives also may require a start-up period to work out the kinks. Knowing the right moment to move on is often a difficult decision that can only be determined in hindsight. Finally, holding the grantmaking organization, as well as the grantees accountable is key to measuring success. While assessment can be difficult, it should be attempted.

Source:

Massachusetts' Attorney Generals Office

To view,
download
free copy of:

MASSACHUSETTS’ ATTORNEY GENERAL’S REPORT ON 2002 TELEMARKETING FOR CHARITY
http://www.ago.state.ma.us/charity/telrep02.pdf

This report provides detailed information on the 90 telemarketers registered in the state of Massachusetts, including a breakdown of where the money they collect goes, and tips on informed giving. The Massachusetts' Attorney General's office found that, on average, organizations received 26 cents for every dollar raised per campaign, ranging from a low of 1 cent to a high of $1 (!).  Only one quarter of the charities received 50% or more of the dollars received.  Nearly half received between 20%-49% of money collected, and about one in 6 received less than 10% of gross revenues.

Source:

Chicago
Tribune

Requires free registration to
view article.

DONORS SHOULD BE WISE AS WELL AS CHARITABLE
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/investing/personalfinance/chi-0312160364dec16,1,448350.story?coll=chi-businessyourmoney-hed

Donors are reminded to pay attention to their end of year giving, both in terms of making gifts by December 31, as well as making sure the organizations they give to are reputable charities.

SEE ALSO:

Source:

National Center
for Family
Philanthropy

FAMILY PHILANTHROPY AND DONOR-ADVISED FUNDS

http://www.ncfp.org/publications-main-monographs.html#DAFunds

Families choose donor-advised funds for the same two basic reasons that they choose other approaches to philanthropy: first, to do good works and second, to have an impact. This monograph, the only guide for families on donor-advised giving, provides families with a thorough understanding of how and why people choose this vehicle for giving, as well as specific tools to help people create a donor-advised fund.

Source:

Jossey Bass Publishing

INSPIRED PHILANTHROPY: 
YOUR STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO CREATING A GIVING PLAN
http://www.josseybass.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0787964107.html

This book provides all donors, regardless of giving level, with a systematic approach to developing a giving plan. Included are case studies, exercises, and an overall philosophy on giving that will help ensure that “the resources you give reflect your own personal philosophy and priorities.”

Source:

Holland and
Knight

CHARITABLE GIVING OPTIONS
http://www.hklaw.com/Publications/Newsletters.asp?ID=413&Article=2341

This brief article provides individuals with information about the benefits and tax implications of the four basic vehicles for giving to charity: simple gifts of cash or property, creating a private foundation, giving to a community foundation, or setting up a donor-advised fund.

Source:

Wiley and Sons Publishing

To view,
download
free copy of:

ENGAGING IN PHILANTHROPY – A GUIDE FOR NEW DONORS
http://media.wiley.com/product_data/excerpt/95/04714143/0471414395.pdf

The chapter from Invest in Charity: A Donor's Guide to Charitable Giving, provides a short history of charitable giving in the United States, and discusses donors’ motivation for giving. The chapter then takes the reader through a step-by-step guide for creating a personal giving plan. Available in its entirety on the web, this chapter contains checklists to assist the reader in making a donor action plan that may help both new and veteran donors focus their giving.

Source:

The Funding Exchange

ROBIN HOOD WAS RIGHT:
A GUIDE TO GIVING YOUR MONEY FOR SOCIAL CHANGE
http://www.robinhoodwasright.org/thebook.html

A unique how-to guide for giving, whether you are living paycheck to paycheck or a multimillionaire. The book is a nuts-and-bolts primer for taking control of your money, investing, understanding tax-wise giving, identifying effective organizations and making donations that are right for your wallet and your values.

WHAT'S NEW AT THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR FAMILY PHILANTHROPY

SPECIAL WELCOME TO NEW INTERN

Please join us in welcoming Judy Weiss as an intern to the National Center for Family Philanthropy. Judy has experience with family philanthropy from a wide variety of perspectives, both as a trustee of her family's foundation, and through involvement in other public foundations. Judy also has extensive experience as a university-based researcher, with a focus on maternal and child health issues.

Judy's first assignment with the National Center was the development of the current edition of Family Giving News. She will be working on several important projects in the coming months, including the National Center's forthcoming Family Philanthropy Online Knowledge Center.

For information about becoming an NCFP intern, please contact Sally Jones at 202.293.3424.

Request a
Copy of the Printed Report ($20 per copy)

WHAT CALIFORNIA DONORS WANT:
IN THEIR OWN VOICES
This forthcoming report is the first in-depth study of the goals, motivations, and challenges of leading California donors. This report provides valuable insight and advice for community and public foundations, regional associations of grantmakers, lawyers, financial advisors, and others who support independent, philanthropic donors.  What are the goals and motivations of California’s new generation of philanthropic donors? What resources do these community leaders access to help guide their giving strategies? What are the gaps in information currently available for donors, and what key challenges do these individuals face in becoming effective donors?

What California Donors Want provides answers and context for these and other key questions.

So what do California donors want? Specific suggestions from the donors themselves include:

• Comprehensive, unbiased, value-neutral information about charitable options presented in simple language

• Assistance in connecting with a network of national and regional resources and support groups at the point of entry

• Information about “best practices”

• Information about the challenges of involving children in family giving programs

Please see the Calendar of Events section for information on two upcoming seminars about this important new study. Special thanks to The James Irvine Foundation for their generous support that made this project possible.

DEMYSTIFYING DECISION-MAKING IN FAMILY PHILANTHROPY
The notion of selecting a method to use in making a decision is foreign to many family foundations and advised funds. Getting board members to agree can be difficult enough. Why would foundations and advisory boards want to add yet another step to the process? Many family foundations follow the decision-making procedures established in their bylaws. Typically, foundation bylaws require a majority vote or consensus to set or change policies, and  boards use these methods to make all decisions.

This current edition of Passages describes different kinds of decisions made under varying conditions and circumstances requiring different decision-making methods.

By Ann Shulman
September 2003, 12 pages

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FAMILY PHILANTHROPY: WHAT WE DON'T KNOW
How has family philanthropy been defined? What is the extent of family philanthropy? What patterns of giving characterize family philanthropy? What are the motivations for family philanthropy? How are family philanthropies governed and managed?

In 2002, the National Center for Family Philanthropy commissioned The Urban Institute to identify, review, and assess existing empirical research on a set of broad questions concerning the sources, nature, and consequences of family involvement in philanthropy. We cast a wide net, seeking research on giving or volunteering by any two or more individuals related by blood, adoption, or marriage. We not only sought research explicitly focused on family philanthropy, but also work on related topics (such as foundations or individual philanthropy) that might include material on family philanthropy.

This paper provides those with research, policy, and practice-oriented interests in the field – including nonprofit administrators, fundraisers, advisors, and donors themselves – with a compilation of available knowledge about family philanthropy.

By Francie Ostrower

October 2003, 12 pages

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SPOTLIGHT ON... TRENDS IN NATIONAL AND REGIONAL GIVING

The drop in the stock market over the past few years has had a direct and damaging impact on charitable giving. The good news is that this trend appears to be reversing. Two new national reports and a regional report suggest that nonprofits have reason to feel more optimistic about funding in the coming year. “Increases in personal income and growth in corporate profits … have combined to lead fundraisers to greater optimism of the charitable giving climate,” said Patrick M. Rooney, an economist and director of research at Indiana University’s Center on Philanthropy.

However, this turnaround is mild and may be less pronounced for certain regions of the country and types of organizations. In addition, many organizations are reporting an increased demand for services. Fewer nonprofits in western regions of the United States are reporting increased funding in 2003 compared to nonprofits in the eastern part of the U.S, and educational organizations are more optimistic than religious organizations about improved funding in the coming year.

Should the economy continue to improve, it will be interesting to find out whether this optimism has been justified. Some regions, like the Washington D.C. area, are reporting an overall increase in giving, but not among nonprofits in the area's most needy communities.

One other piece of potential good news is the apparent new trend among top philanthropists in the country toward giving more in the present. According to a recent article in Business Week, these top givers want to have a greater and more immediate impact on social ills, to have greater control over how their philanthropic dollars are spent, and have family concerns about leaving too much to the next generation. Many are using their knowledge and skills to take a business-like approach to philanthropy, which is having an impact on funders at all levels. Most importantly, as the article states, “our superphilanthropists provide powerful examples of the good that can come from redistributing fortunes back into society."

NATIONAL TRENDS

Source:

Indiana
University
Center on Philanthropy

PHILANTHROPIC GIVING INDEX, DECEMBER 2003
http://www.philanthropy.iupui.edu/nr-PGI-Dec2003.htm

The Philanthropic Giving Index (PGI), similar to the Consumer Confidence Index, asks nonprofit fundraisers to assess the current giving environment and the climate over the next six months. The most recent survey, conducted in October, found increasing optimism about charitable giving prospects among respondents.  While the July 2003 PGI hit an all-time low, the October PGI showed the largest six-month increase since the survey began in 1998.  The improvement in the stock market and other economic indicators appear to be behind the rise in optimism. “This new report gives nonprofits hope during the holidays that Americans will be more generous in supporting their programs and services,” according to Eugene R. Tempel, executive director of the Center on Philanthropy.

At the same time, over half of respondents (57%) still feel the economy will have a negative impact on giving, and 38% continue to believe that the uncertainty from the war also will dampen contributions.  Interestingly, fundraisers for educational nonprofits were the most optimistic, while those from religious organizations were the least optimistic.

Source:

Guidestar

OCTOBER 2003 NONPROFIT ECONOMIC SURVEY
http://www.guidestar.org/news/features/2003_oct_survey.jsp

This October 2003 survey of 660 public charities and foundations found that the nonprofit sector is experiencing a mild recovery, but that the improvement is spotty. While 39% of nonprofits reported an increase in contributions, up from 28% a year ago, 35% reported a decrease in contributions, down from 48% at the same time last year. Nonprofits in New England, the Southeast and the Great Lakes were more likely to report increased giving compared to those in the Plains, the Rocky Mountains and the Far West.

Over two-thirds of respondents reported that demand for their services had increased. "We were pleased to learn that many charities are receiving increased support compared to 2002," said Robert G. Ottenhoff, GuideStar's president and CEO. "It is significant, however, that most participants reported greater demand for their organizations' services. A number also noted that they have to work harder to garner the same level of contributions and that their organizations' expenses have risen. Thus even charities that have received increased support are facing substantial challenges."

Source:

Business
Week

THE TOP GIVERS
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/03_48/b3860601.htm

For the second year in a row, Business Week magazine has named its 50 top philanthropists in America. These top givers are “bringing a businesslike rigor to philanthropy,” including a demand for greater accountability, measurable results, and efficiency, which is “trickling-down” to funders at every level. Unlike many philanthropists in the past, these new funders are giving away the bulk of their wealth while living and doing so at relatively young ages. Many have also made conscious decisions to leave smaller inheritances to their children and grandchildren.

"Now, people are setting up foundations in their 30s and 40s," says Charles Collier, Board member of the National Center and senior philanthropic adviser at Harvard University. "In years past, everybody assumed foundations would go on for multiple generations. Today, I think the trend is definitely toward giving more in one's lifetime."

There are a number of reasons why people are giving more now, including having greater control over where the money goes, being able to concentrate larger sums on the world’s social problems, and awareness of the challenges that inherited money can have on the next generation.  Some on the list say they want their children to be comfortable, but also want to give them a chance to make their own way.  Catherine Reynolds, no. 38 on the list and the first self-made woman to appear, is one such philanthropist:  “"My concept with wealth is not to leave it to the next generation," says Reynolds. "I think you sort of take away the fire in the belly."

The article concludes:  “For the most part, our superphilanthropists provide powerful examples of the good that can come from redistributing fortunes back into society. For many, philanthropy becomes a second career -- and they bring to it the same discipline and talent they used to accumulate their fortunes in the first place.”

“In years past, everybody assumed foundations would go on for multiple generations. Today... the trend is definitely toward giving more in one's lifetime.”

REGIONAL TRENDS

Source:

Minnesota
Council on Foundations

THE MINNESOTA GRANTMAKING 2004 OUTLOOK REPORT
http://www.mcf.org/mcf/whatsnew/briefs/outlook031209.htm

According to a November 2003 survey of Minnesota grantmakers, 70% expect to increase their grants in 2004, but 44% said the increase will be less than 5%. In 2003, only 43% of the state’s grantmakers expected to increase their funding.  Corporate grantmakers were the most likely to expect to increase giving in 2004 (77%), followed by community foundations (72%) and private foundations (63%). The increase in giving is due, in large part, to an increase in foundation assets and corporate profits. Over half (58%) of Minnesota’s foundations reported an increase in assets, compared to only 11% last year.  Community foundations attribute their anticipated higher levels of giving to an increase in gifts from individuals.

"The brighter outlook for Minnesota grantmaking in 2004 is welcome news for nonprofits and communities," said Minnesota Council on Foundations’ president Bill King. "But it is important to remember that grantmakers can never fill the gaps left by reduced funding from government and other sources. We must continue to find new ways to maintain and improve the health and vitality of our communities with more limited resources."

Source:

Association of Baltimore Area Grantmakers

GROWING PHILANTHROPY THROUGH GIVING CIRCLES:
LESSONS LEARNED FROM START-UP TO GRANTMAKING

http://www.abagmd.org/info-url2446/info-url_show.htm?doc_id=199229

Giving circles are typically organized around a particular issue or area of interest, such as women's issues, quality of life, or the environment, and are considered a high engagement form of philanthropy because donors usually participate in collective decision-making and educational activities. The circle's grantmaking functions, proposal review, and site visits engage members in a participatory process that, when combined with the increased impact of pooled charitable dollars, has strong appeal to many donors.

This new report explores and communicates the lessons learned from two giving circles initiated in Maryland, the Baltimore Women's Giving Circle at the Baltimore Community Foundation and the Women's Giving Circle of Howard County at the Columbia Foundation, Howard County's Community Foundation.

“Grantmakers can never fill the gaps left by reduced funding from government and other sources. We must continue to find new ways to maintain and improve the health and vitality of our communities with more limited resources.”

Source:

Washington Grantmakers

To view,
download
free copy of:

A REGION OF GIVERS 2003: THE REPORT ON PHILANTHROPY IN THE GREATER WASHINGTON REGION
http://www.washingtongrantmakers.org/wg/pdf/2003GivingReport.pdf

This comprehensive annual report by the Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers provides information on individual giving, community and private grantmaking, and corporate giving, as well as survey results from local area nonprofits on fundraising. While the total amount of giving by Washington, DC, area foundations increased from $855 million in 2001 to $940 million in 2002, more than half (52%) of private foundations reported a decline in giving.  The outlook for 2003 was for a continued slump in giving. Corporate giving was down by 22% last year as well. Giving by individuals slowed considerably in 2001 despite the response to September 11. Still, residents of the Washington-area gave 62% more than the national average to charities.

Over three-quarters of nonprofits surveyed reported that overall funding had declined. "The local nonprofits are not feeling this increase," said Kae Dakin, president of the Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers. More than half of all grants went to organizations outside the Washington area. And of the grants that went to the District of Columbia, the majority of dollars went to the wealthier neighborhoods with large arts and cultural institutions, such as the Kennedy Center, while the poorest neighborhood, Anacostia, received only $2.1 million in grants. "If we had to depend on local foundations, we wouldn't be in operation," said Spencer Holland, chief executive of Project 2000, a 10-year-old program that provides mentoring and academic support to children to prepare them for college.

Source:

Go Memphis

GIVING MEMPHIS 2003:
YOUNG PEOPLE EMBODY CITY'S GIVING CULTURE

http://www.gomemphis.com/mca/local_news/article/0,1426,MCA_437_2483806,00.html

A soon-to-be-released report found that in 2000 young people between the ages of 21 and 40 living in the Memphis area gave an average of $2,491 to charities compared to $1,191 nationally. Memphis households gave more than the national average in every age group, but the difference was greatest among the youngest donors. Jason Fair, a 32 year old financial adviser, said ''this data showed that we're not all about what we can get. We are about what we can give.''

Overall, nearly $1.4 billion was given to charities in the eight-county Memphis area in 2002. Nearly half (46%) of all giving went to religious charities, representing close to a half billion dollars. Nationally, 35% of all giving goes to religious groups. The report is based on a survey conducted by the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University.

“We're not all about what we can get. We are about what we can give.”

Source:

Nellie Mae Foundation

To view,
download
free copy of:

FOUNDATION GIVING IN THE NEW ENGLAND REGION
http://www.nmefdn.org/uimages/documents/Foundation_Giving_2003.pdf

Among the 6 New England states there are more than 5,000 individual foundations with assets of more than $22 billion and annual grantmaking of more than $1.3 billion. This report describes these foundations and presents key indicators to compare foundation capacity and activity in 2000. The report found that compared to the U.S. as a whole, New England foundations are relatively small. Community foundations play a larger role, and a higher percentage of grant dollars go to education, human services and the environment, with a smaller percentage dedicated to health care. One-third of all grant dollars goes to education.

Source:

American Association for Fundraising Counsel

GIVING USA 2003
http://aafrc.org/press_releases/trustreleases/charityholds.html

Philanthropic giving was up 1% in 2002 over 2001, but after adjusting for inflation, there was a net decrease of 0.5 percent. A record $241 billion was given to charitable organizations in 2002. The growth in giving stemmed prima