Assets, gifts, and grants
The collective asset total among all reporting community foundations is 10 percent lower than the collective total for 2021. During a year in which the broader economy was experiencing a significant decline which impacted invested assets, 84 percent of all participating community foundations reported a negative year over year change in their asset totals, while 50 percent reported a decrease in fundraising totals from 2021. Given overall market declines throughout 2022, the median decrease for community foundations operating on a calendar year and those with a June 30 fiscal year end was the same: 13 percent. Only those with a March 31 fiscal year end date (n=9) reported a median increase, of 14 percent.
Total assets
Median change in assets: -11%
Total reported gifts & grants
Total reported assets, gifts, & grants over time
The table below reflects the long-term growth in assets, gifts, and grants among the largest 100 community foundations in the country, whose data are available for all 10 years represented. The collective asset total for this group decreased by 10 percent from 2021, a reflection of the overall field and of a volatile economic climate. Notably, this cohort’s collective fundraising total decreased by 21 percent following a significant jump, while grantmaking among this group increased by 17 percent, continuing a long-term trend of continued growth in giving by community foundations.
| Year | Assets ($) | Gifts ($) | Grants ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $57,955,443,644 | $6,753,720,992 | $4,291,131,802 |
| 2014 | $64,113,358,026 | $7,720,006,318 | $5,253,946,539 |
| 2015 | $65,784,036,468 | $6,987,513,903 | $5,899,448,220 |
| 2016 | $69,324,301,740 | $8,162,118,448 | $6,778,767,461 |
| 2017 | $78,821,832,919 | $8,912,023,161 | $7,778,797,934 |
| 2018 | $79,603,572,913 | $9,560,516,941 | $8,452,602,018 |
| 2019 | $88,154,456,321 | $8,924,325,182 | $8,055,620,530 |
| 2020 | $96,002,392,014 | $12,581,839,388 | $11,014,194,186 |
| 2021 | $122,297,837,424 | $19,675,819,053 | $12,295,100,721 |
| 2022 | $110,102,434,728 | $15,592,795,347 | $14,439,672,300 |
Changes in gift and grant activity
Nearly half of all respondents experienced a moderate or dramatic decrease in fundraising (defined as a decrease of 10 or more percent) from 2021 levels, and the median community foundation experienced a one percent year over year reduction in fundraising. Interestingly, year over year changes in fundraising varied by asset size cohort: the median foundations in the under $25M, $100-250M, and $500M+ asset size cohorts experienced reductions in gifts received, while the remaining cohorts ($25-$100M and $250-$500M) saw year over year, double-digit increases in gifts.
Community foundations across the field increased their grantmaking to new highs, continuing a trend from the previous two years. The median participating community foundation increased their grantmaking total by seven percent over 2021, with all size cohorts reporting increases.
Median change in gifts: -1%
| Type of activity | Dramatic decrease | Moderate decrease | Neutral | Moderate increase | Dramatic increase | Median change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gifts | 17% | 27% | 11% | 18% | 27% | -1% |
| Grants | 3% | 25% | 28% | 31% | 13% | 7% |
Median change in grants: 7%
Median gifts and grants per capita
The largest community foundations in the country, many of which serve large, densely populated urban centers and large numbers of high and ultra-high net worth donors, achieve an economy of scale that is reflected in their high fundraising and grantmaking totals. (n=218)
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.
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