Administrative fees assessed on funds are the primary source of revenue for community foundations and will be for the foreseeable future, though differences in revenue mix are observed in different asset size cohorts. Smaller community foundations, on average, depend more on direct fundraising to support operations and internal operating endowment/reserve distributions than larger foundations. Some diversification can be observed at individual community foundations seeking alternative means of funding, which in turn support emerging efforts such as community leadership and special initiatives.
Averages were used to total 100%. (n=255)
| Size of foundation | Administrative fees | Fees for service | Fundraising: operations | Fundraising: programmatic | Distribution from endowment/reserve | Other revenue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $0-$25M | 63% | 1% | 15% | 5% | 11% | 4% |
| $25-$50M | 68% | 0% | 11% | 5% | 10% | 6% |
| $50-$100M | 70% | 1% | 10% | 5% | 10% | 4% |
| $100-$250M | 78% | 1% | 6% | 3% | 8% | 4% |
| $250-$500M | 78% | 1% | 4% | 6% | 4% | 6% |
| $500M+ | 73% | 3% | 4% | 6% | 5% | 8% |
| All | 71% | 1% | 9% | 5% | 8% | 5% |