Foundation Giving Likely to Remain Stable
by Ashley High

Recently The Foundation Center conducted a research advisory which suggests “grant making priorities in most areas, such as health, the arts, and international affairs, do not shift suddenly in the face of reduced resources and are remarkably consistent over the long term.” There are several points that this research highlights.

 

First, foundations do respond to immediate needs outside of their areas of interest during emergencies. For example, almost $700 million was given by U.S. foundations after the September 11 terrorist attacks, and approximately $500 million was donated after the 2005 Gulf Coast hurricanes. Foundations may use discretionary or emergency funds or reach into their endowments to donate in these urgent situations.

 

Steven Lawrence, the Center’s senior director of research, says, “There is no guarantee that patterns seen during the early 2000s economic downturn will predict how the current reality will unfold. But nonprofits should feel reassured that dramatic changes in overall foundation giving priorities are unlikely.”

 

This research advisory and others can be assessed at the Center’s regularly updated online feature, “Focus on the Economic Crisis,” which contains many resources to help nonprofits gain fundraising information and handle the unstable economy.

 

Information taken from: “Foundation Giving Priorities Remain Consistent During Economic Slowdowns, New Foundation Center Research Advisory Shows.” AScribe Newswire. http://newswire.ascribe.org/.

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