Over two-thirds of responding community foundations carried an operating surplus at the end of FY24. Community foundations rely mainly on administrative fees as their main source of revenue, with other income sources helping to cover operating costs, and unrestricted funds making up for any remaining shortfall. Relying on unrestricted funds for that purpose, however, may have an impact on the extent to which a community foundation can invest in community leadership or other mission-driven initiatives. (n=230)
The categories in the chart below are calculated as revenues divided by expenses: Significant surplus >125%; Modest surplus = 105%-124%; Breakeven = 95%-104%; Modest subsidy = 75%-94%; Significant subsidy <75%
| Significant subsidy | Modest subsidy | Breakeven | Modest surplus | Significant surplus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8% | 13% | 25% | 33% | 22% |