Larger community foundations tend to maintain relatively complex operating models, requiring a higher number of specialized staff who will be less likely to manage donor funds. (n=223)

It's typical to see a lower expense-to-asset ratio at larger community foundations where an economy of scale is achieved, though operating model differences at individual community foundations will have an impact on this metric. In combination with asset growth stagnation, a trend toward embarking on foundation-driven leadership efforts is resulting in higher expense-to-asset ratios across the field. Medians for three out of six asset size cohorts are higher than they were in FY17. (n=240)

Field Median: 1.2%

#chart-wrapper-17062 g.highcharts-axis-labels.highcharts-yaxis-labels { display: none; } #chart-wrapper-17062 text.highcharts-axis-title { display: none; }

There was a slight decrease in the number of respondents who reported operating expenses in excess of revenues; 26 percent, down from 28 percent in FY17.

Across the field, no significant differences in the breakdown between staff and non-staff expenses are observed. It's typical for two-thirds of operating expenses to go toward staff capacity.

Averages were used to total 100%. (n=240)

It will come at no surprise that administrative fees on funds act as the main driver of community foundation operating revenues. No asset size cohort, on average, acquires less than two-thirds of all operating revenue from admin fees. There will, however, be differences in the extent to which community foundations of different sizes depend on other sources of revenue.

DAFs at community foundations tend to be highly active grantmaking vehicles; more than half (53%) of all survey respondents granted more than 10% of their DAF assets out in FY2018. Larger community foundations, which as noted above tend to carry more non-endowed assets, also have the highest distribution rates.

Sample size for DAF distribution rates are slightly smaller (n=236) than for the whole foundation (n=250).

#chart-wrapper-17054 g.highcharts-axis-labels.highcharts-yaxis-labels { display: none; }

The "flow rate" of DAFs compares a given year's grantmaking total with its gift total, dividing grants by gifts. This metric may help capture the activity of donors who contribute to their DAF and grant from it that same year.1 As with distribution rate and other measures of DAF activity in this survey, data is collected in the aggregate by sponsoring community foundation.

On average, donor advised funds make up more than a third of assets for community foundations larger than $250M. Although DAFs continue to grow, they don't appear to comprise significantly more of respondents' asset bases than in previous years.

Averages were used to total 100%. (n=238)

Smaller, emerging community foundations that may be focused on asset growth typically have a relatively high proportion of endowed assets. Larger community foundations, with an increased focus on diversifying their portfolios and donor bases, are more likely to have a higher proportion of pass-through funds.

Median percentages for the proportion of assets that are endowed and non-endowed may not add up to 100% due to rounding. (n=227)

Subscribe to