Conducting Foundation Research

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Conducting Foundation Research

• National Center for Mental Health Promotion and
  Youth Violence Prevention
• Renée Wilson-Simmons, DrPH

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What Does It Mean to Conduct Foundation Research?

• Understanding trends
• Identifying potential funders
• Carefully examining potential funders
• Identifying the right foundations to approach
• Developing a relationship with each foundation
• Following guidelines when applying for funding

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Foundation Giving Trends 2005

• Report produced by the Foundation Center
  (www.fdncenter.org)
• Documented all grants of 10,000 or more awarded
  by 1,010 of the largest U.S. foundations in 2003
• Totaled 14.3 billion in 2003 (half of all
  foundation giving)
• The Foundation Center has tracked changes in
  funding trends since 1994

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Foundation Giving Trends 2005

• Overall giving by the largest private and
  community foundations decreased 10 percent
  between 2002 and 2003.
• Operating support claimed a new record-high share
  of foundation giving (22 percent share of grant
  dollars in 2003).
• Foundation support for major capital commitments
  (e.g., building and renovation) declined to a
  record low (17 percent).
• The number of organizations receiving grants
  decreased from 52,375 to 50,413
• The Foundation Center, The State of Foundation
  Giving, 2005

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Foundation Giving Trends 2005

• Percent of grant dollars awarded by category,
  2003
• 25 Education
• 20 Health
• 16 Human Services
• 13 Public Affairs/Society Benefit
• 13 Arts Culture
• 6 Environment Animals
• 3 International Affairs
• 2 Science Technology
• 2 Religion
• 2 Social Sciences

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Foundation Giving Trends 2005

• Children and youth regained the largest share of
  grant dollars in 2003.
• Among grants benefiting this group A 29.2
  million award from the Bill Melinda Gates
  Foundation to New Visions for Public Schools
• Share of funding targeting the economically
  disadvantaged declined to 15.1
• Support for women and girls increased by 11
  percent.

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Giving Trends of the 100 Largest Foundations

• Health, International Affairs, and the Social
  Sciences received proportionately bigger shares
  of grant dollars from the largest foundations
  than from smaller funders.
• Smaller foundations provided greater levels of
  support for Human Services, Arts Culture, and
  Religion in comparison to the largest funders.

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Giving Trends by Foundation Region

• Northeastern foundations continued to provide the
  largest share of grant dollars in 2003. The
  Northeast region also accounted for the biggest
  share of grant dollars received.
• Northeastern, midwestern, and southern
  grantmakers favored support for education
  western foundations awarded the largest share of
  their grant dollars for health.
• Across regions, foundations favored children
  youth, and the economically disadvantaged.

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Foundation Yearbook 2005

• Giving by the nations 66,000 foundations
  slipped 0.4 to 30.3 billion in 2003, following
  a 0.2 decrease in 2002.
• Although total foundation assets remained below
  their peak level of 2000, assets rebounded in
  2003, rising by 9.5 and ending two consecutive
  years of decline.
• In 2004, giving increased to an estimated 32.4
  billion, up 7 from 2003.
• Giving was estimated to increase modestly in
  2005.
• The Foundation Center, Foundation Yearbook (2005)

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Foundation Yearbook 2005

• The number of U.S. foundations reached a record
  high of 66,398 in 2003.
• The West experienced the fastest growth rate in
  number of foundations
• The Northeast ranked first in percentage of
  growth in giving.

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Foundation Yearbook 2005 The State of States (in
2003)

• California topped all states in actual asset
  dollar gain.
• Delaware registered the fastest rate of growth in
  assets.
• Maine experienced the most rapid growth in
  giving.
• New Jersey led in actual grant dollars awarded.
• New York foundations reported the largest amount
  of giving overall

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Foundation Research Important Questions to Ask

• What is the foundations mission?
• What is the foundations approach?
• How much funding is available, and for how long?
• Is my organization eligible for funding from this
  foundation?

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Important Questions to Ask, contd.

• What is the application process?
• What organizations are receiving support from
  this foundation and what can I learn about them?
• Is there anything else thats important to know?

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Follow Up Questions Answers

• Need additional information?
• Contact your Technical Assistance Specialist