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Foundation Giving

To chart your organization’s performance and inform your fundraising strategies for the year ahead, check out the following highlights, trends, and statistics with this review of giving to and by foundations.


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.

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.

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.


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