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.
Data reflects the largest 100 community foundations by asset size as of FY2015 and includes those within the cohort whose data are available for all years represented. (n=95)
| 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%
| 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 change in grants: 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. (n=246)
What's the idea behind the survey?
CF Insights responds to a hunger for shared knowledge among community foundations. Learn more about how this survey helps us do that.
Questions?
