Economies of scale at larger community foundations generally drive expense-to-asset ratios down, though it should be noted that individual operating models have a major influence on this metric. There are community foundations across the field that are interested in increasing their investment in community leadership, which would be one factor in increasing this ratio for many. (n=256)

Field median: 1.2%

Fewer respondents reported expenses that were in excess of revenues earned (14%) than FY 2016 (22%), while just under half of all respondents reported surpluses.

Differences in the proportion of personnel to non-personnel expenses are relatively minor when comparing community foundations of different sizes. Insofar as differences do exist can be observed in smaller community foundations, which may have very few staff.

Averages were used to total 100%. (n=256)

Median change in assets: 0.8%

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.

Foundation-wide distribution rates increase along with overall asset size. A similar relationship between asset size and donor-advised fund distribution rate is observed. This is no small way can be attributable to the proportion of non-endowed assets held by larger foundations, which can tend to be more active grantmakers.

For every asset size cohort represented, the distribution rate of donor-advised funds, increasingly popular philanthropic vehicles, outpaces the foundation as a whole.

Larger community foundations tend to have higher proportions of assets in donor-advised funds, which, in combination with holding more in non-endowed assets, reflect an ability to provide flexible philanthropic vehicles to donors.

Averages were used to total 100 percent. (n=255)

Smaller community foundations tend to have a much higher proportion of endowed assets than their larger counterparts, as do younger and emerging community foundations concentrating on growth. Community foundations in Indiana, many of whom were established through the Lilly endowment and occupy the two smaller asset size bands, are well-represented here.