Philanthropy Facts & Figures

According to the most recent statistics (2006 figures) published by the Foundation Center in their Foundation Yearbook: Facts and Figures on Private and Community Foundations, 2007 Edition:

•	71,000 = Number of foundations operating in the U.S.
•	$550.6 billion = Total foundation assets
•	$40.7 billion = Total foundation giving

The edition's key findings include:

• Foundation assets grew by 10 to 12 percent in 2006
• Independent and family foundations — which account for nearly nine out of ten foundations — raised their giving by 10.3 percent in 2006, representing their first double-digit increase since 2001
• Community foundations reported the fastest growth in giving, with funding up 13.2 percent in 2006
• Corporate foundation giving grew a more modest 6 percent in 2006, following a 16.5 percent jump in 2005
• Nearly 60 percent of surveyed foundations expect their giving to increase in 2007, and overall funding will likely continue to grow at a double-digit pace

>>More information on national trends in giving are available online in the Research Studies area of the Foundation Center's Web site.

Philanthropy in Pennsylvania
As of 2005, The Foundation Center reports that:

•	3,896 foundations operating in the state
•	$28.5 billion in foundation assets in Pennsylvania
•	$1.7 billion in annual foundation giving

>> For more information on philanthropy in Pennsylvania, see our report "Commonwealth Giving: A Report on Pennsylvania Philanthropy", published in March 2008.

Where to Find More Philanthropy Facts & Figures
There are many organizations throughout the U.S. that track data on charitable giving and the nonprofit sector. Listed below are some of the major institutions that collect and disseminate this data, as well as links to some of the most comprehensive reports produced on the scope of philanthropy in the U.S. today.

FOUNDATION CENTER
As the foremost research organization on foundation giving, the Center's mission is to support and improve institutional philanthropy by promoting public understanding of the field and helping grant seekers succeed.

•	FC Stats - Statistical data on U.S. private and community foundations and their funding patterns.
•	Top 50 U.S. Foundations (listed by asset size)
•	Key Facts on Corporate Foundations (May 2007) This 5-page summary reports key statistics about grantmaking by the nation's nearly 2,600 corporate foundations.
•	Key Facts on Family Foundations (January 2007) This 2-page fact sheet reports on the over 33,000 foundations identified by the Foundation Center as having "measurable donor or donor-family involvement."
•	Key Facts on Community Foundations (September 2006) New research from the Foundation Center profiles the size, scope, and giving interests of the nation’s 700 community foundations.
•	Foundation Finder - Search by name for addresses, Web sites, basic financial information, and more on 71,000 foundations in the U.S.

INDEPENDENT SECTOR
A coalition of over 700 leading nonprofits, foundations and corporations strengthening not-for-profit initiative, philanthropy and citizen action.

•	Report on Giving and Volunteering in the United States (10/28/02)
•	The New Nonprofit Almanac and Desk Reference Facts on the size and scope of the nonprofit sector and the giving and volunteering that supports it.

THE CENTER ON PHILANTHROPY AT INDIANA UNIVERSITY
The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University seeks to increase the understanding of philanthropy and improve its practice through programs in research, teaching, public service, and public affairs.

THE GIVING INSTITUTE

The Giving Institute, formerly the AAFRC TRUST FOR PHILANTHROPY, publishes GIVING USA, the annual yearbook on American philanthropy, and supports research and education.

•	GIVING USA 2007: The Annual Report on Philanthropy for the Year 2006

NATIONAL CENTER FOR CHARITABLE STATISTICS
The NCCS is the national repository of data on the nonprofit sector in the United States. Its mission is to develop and disseminate high quality data on nonprofit organizations and their activities for use in research on the relationships between the nonprofit sector, government, the commercial sector, and the broader civil society.

ARNOVA
The Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA) is membership organization that fosters the creation, application and dissemination of research on voluntary action, nonprofit organizations, philanthropy and civil society.

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