Year-over-Year Giving to Foundations
Blackbaud estimates that in 2021, giving to foundations increased by 5.4% compared to 2020.1 We expect to see growth and change in this area, as avenues for giving like donor-advised funds (DAFs) expand in response to changes in supporter preferences and incentives.
1 2022, The Blackbaud Institute Index
Year-over-Year Giving by Foundations
According to Giving USA, giving by foundations totaled $88.55 billion in 2020, which represented 19% of all charitable giving.² This is a 17% increase from 2019 and included grantmaking by independent, community, and operating foundations.
2 2021, Giving USA, Giving USA 2021: The Annual Report on Philanthropy for the Year 2020
Year-over-Year Giving by Foundation Type
According to Giving USA, giving by independent foundations, a type of private foundation usually founded by a family, individual, or group of individuals increased 14% in 2020 compared to 2019.
Community foundations, which are comprised of community leaders that make grants for local programs only, increased their giving by 53% in 2020. The surge in Foundation Giving according to The Community Foundation Public Awareness Initiative is largly due to an increase in grant dollars from donor-advised funds for COVID-19 relief.