Diminishing Dollars for Social Justice Philanthropy

2008 Financial Crisis Likely to Affect Assets and Grantmaking Through 2015

New York, NY – November 17, 2011. According to a new report from the Foundation Center, a small but important subset of grantmakers — those who work on issues ranging from human rights to environmental justice — has been disproportionately impacted by the global financial crisis and their recovery remains in jeopardy. Diminishing Dollars: The Impact of the 2008 Financial Crisis on the Field of Social Justice Philanthropy examines historical trends in foundation assets, spending, and giving levels; describes strategies used by foundations to cope with depleted assets immediately following the crisis; and presents projections through 2015 for asset and grantmaking levels.

"The ripple effect from the damage to these foundations' endowments has the potential to be significant and lasting for the social justice arena," said Sara K. Gould, the Foundation Center's Atlantic Philanthropies senior fellow and author of the report. "These are key players in the field of social justice philanthropy, often serving a unique and critical role in local communities with grassroots efforts and an on-the-ground presence. Yet, they are also some of the most vulnerable."

Key findings of the study indicate:

• Unless the field sees five years of above average investment returns, social justice grantmaking in 2015 will remain below 2008 levels.
• Small foundations (less than $50 million in assets) will struggle the most to recover from the economic downturn.
• Nonprofit organizations seeking new funders will have a difficult time.
• Some foundations are unintentionally depleting their endowments at a very slow rate.

The study examined endowed foundations that engage in social justice philanthropy in at least two geographic regions of the U.S. and award $100 million or less in grants annually. The giving of sampled foundations ($763.1 million) represents approximately one-quarter of all documented social justice giving in 2009 ($3.1 billion).

"The volatility of the current economy and the uncertainty of future markets drive home the significance of these findings and implore the philanthropic sector to take note," said Elizabeth Sak, executive director of the Cricket Island Foundation, the partner in the study. "The future of social justice philanthropy looks grim unless foundations and nonprofits working in this arena can devise ways to effectively navigate this climate."

This report brings a level of transparency to the field that can empower both grantmakers and the nonprofit organizations they support. Foundations working in the sphere of social justice can use this report to strategize about ways to bring additional funding to the field. For nonprofits, the findings are crucial to their planning efforts and their ability overall to weather the storm.

Diminishing Dollars: The Impact of the 2008 Financial Crisis on the Field of Social Justice Philanthropy (PDF) can be downloaded at no charge from the Gain Knowledge area of the Foundation Center's web site.

Funding for the study was provided by the Cricket Island Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and the Edward W. Hazen Foundation.

Cheryl Loe
Communications Project Manager
The Foundation Center
(888) 356-0354 ext. 701
communications@foundationcenter.org

Elizabeth Sak
Executive Director
The Cricket Island Foundation
(212) 782-3715
liz@cricketisland.org

About the Foundation Center
Established in 1956, the Foundation Center is the leading source of information about philanthropy worldwide. Through data, analysis, and training, it connects people who want to change the world to the resources they need to succeed. The Center maintains the most comprehensive database on U.S. and, increasingly, global grantmakers and their grants — a robust, accessible knowledge bank for the sector. It also operates research, education, and training programs designed to advance knowledge of philanthropy at every level. Thousands of people visit the Center's web site each day and are served in its five regional library/learning centers and its network of more than 450 funding information centers located in public libraries, community foundations, and educational institutions nationwide and around the world. For more information, please visit foundationcenter.org or call (212) 620-4230.

About the Cricket Island Foundation
The Cricket Island Foundation is a family foundation representing three generations. Founded in 2001, its mission is to develop the capacity and commitment of young people to improve their lives and communities, as well as the world around them. Recognizing that organizations need the time and support to become stronger and more sustainable, in 2005 the Foundation began providing long-term general operating support to critical yet under-funded organizations that offer meaningful opportunities for youth to contribute to positive societal change. In addition, though the Foundation provides funding nationally, in 2008 it made a strategic decision to focus regionally in order to develop local organizations, build partnerships with and among grantees, and promote collaborations with local funders. For more information, please visit cricketisland.org.

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