Survey results

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Assets, gifts, and grants

There was a slight uptick in asset growth across the field after a virtual flattening in FY 2015, though the growth rates of individual community foundations remain relatively neutral.

Total assets

Median change in assets: 5.2%

Total reported gifts & grants

Total reported assets, gifts, & grants over time

Focusing on asset, gift, and grant totals for the Top 100 largest community foundations allows for a consistent sample which remains reflective of overall field growth. A significant increase in overall gift and grant activity was observed in 2016, while total assets saw a higher rate of growth than from 2014-2015.

Year Assets Gifts Grants
2008 $38,745,273,278 $4,399,130,412 $3,889,137,826
2009 $40,261,538,382 $3,521,150,643 $3,571,937,978
2010 $43,540,978,750 $3,947,717,032 $3,661,200,092
2011 $44,683,923,413 $4,426,344,102 $3,588,905,569
2012 $49,381,436,925 $5,855,919,025 $3,892,319,922
2013 $57,659,595,685 $6,791,713,359 $4,353,402,359
2014 $63,642,993,843 $7,730,259,210 $5,275,754,284
2015 $65,571,544,761 $7,141,854,972 $5,932,878,430
2016 $69,189,650,543 $8,165,290,641 $6,838,775,835

Changes in gift and grant activity

The proportion of respondents who experienced a dramatic decrease in gifts doubled from 2015, though as in previous years, gift change rates remain difficult to predict. Grants are predictably more stable, driven by fund holders and in keeping with the community foundation’s mission and payout goals. More than half of all survey respondents saw grantmaking totals change by less than 20%.

Median change in gifts: -1.3%

  • Dramatic decrease
  • Moderate decrease
  • Neutral
  • Moderate increase
  • Dramatic increase

Median change in grants: 7%

  • Dramatic decrease
  • Moderate decrease
  • Neutral
  • Moderate increase
  • Dramatic increase
Type of activity Dramatic decrease Moderate decrease Neutral Moderate increase Dramatic increase Median change
Gifts 14% 28% 17% 19% 22% -1.3%
Grants 3% 21% 31% 31% 13% 7%

Median gifts and grants per capita

The concentration of high net worth donors in large urban centers is reflected in per capita gift and grant totals at larger community foundations.