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FOUNDATION GROWTH AND GIVING ESTIMATES: CURRENT OUTLOOK 2009

Submitted by Tommer on March 31, 2009

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In the midst of a deepening recession, U.S. foundation giving grew a modest 2.8 percent, to an estimated $45.6 billion, in 2008, but is expected to decrease in 2009, a new report from the Foundation Center finds.

Based on a recent survey of more than 1,200 large and midsize
foundations, the 2009 edition of Foundation Growth and Giving Estimates: Current Outlook (19 pages, PDF) found that foundation giving did not grow as much in 2008 as had been expected due to the prolonged and serious nature of the economic downturn.

According to last year’s survey, which was conducted before the
economic crisis really took hold, 29 percent of foundations said
they expected to reduce their giving in 2008. This year’s survey,
in contrast, found that 47 percent of top U.S. foundations had
actually reduced their giving last year.