High Expectations, High Opportunity: In a Time of Crisis, Engaged Americans Look to Foundations to Find Solutions, Speak Up, and Stand Apart

In a climate of economic uncertainty, engaged Americans are increasingly looking to foundations to find and fund new ways of solving society’s problems, according to a survey by Harris Interactive. They believe foundations should voluntarily shift funding priorities to help the nation address fallout from the economy’s downturn, but oppose government requiring them to do so. And they want foundations to be independent from government but accountable to the public, more effective in making a difference in society, more transparent in their work, and perpetual in their funding of causes and organizations.

Commissioned by the Philanthropy Awareness Initiative, the survey, conducted in four waves, posed questions about foundations to individuals who hold a leadership, committee or board position in an organization working on community or social issues This is not the general public but a far narrower slice—making up just 12 percent of the American adult population.

The survey findings provide the most detailed picture of these engaged Americans to date—and may suggest a new communications opportunity for philanthropy.

What do engaged Americans know about foundations? Not much, according to the earlier waves of the survey. What do they expect from foundations? A lot, according to the latest waves. These citizens—who include city officials and grassroots advocates, church leaders and business proprietors volunteering for community groups—have high expectations for foundations. In many cases, these are expectations that foundations are well-positioned to meet. Unfortunately, most engaged Americans don’t appear to know it.

http://www.philanthropyawareness.org/sites/default/files/High%20Expectations,%20High%20Opportunity.pdf