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ABAG's Adventures in Philanthropy Column
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"Charitable Giving - What We Give and Where It Goes"
The Daily Record
December 3, 2004
By Betsy Nelson
When it comes to charitable giving, I'm pleased to report that Maryland's grant-making foundations continue to be extremely generous.
The Association of Baltimore Area Grantmakers recently released its 2004 Report on Foundation Giving in Maryland. This report covers the year 2002, the most recent year for which we have data.
Here are a few interesting facts:
The pool of foundations is growing. Since 1996, 570 new foundations have been created in Maryland, bringing the total number of foundations in the state to 1,376.
As you might expect, the population centers of the state saw the greatest number of new foundations: Montgomery County, 229; Baltimore City, 94; and Baltimore County, 83. Between 2001 and 2002, the assets of the 1,376 Maryland foundations declined by $565 million (5.9%), but giving rose by $22.6 million (3.6%).
This might sound surprising. If foundations were losing money, how could they increase their giving? It's important to remember that many foundations made multiple-year commitments in the economically flush times of the late 1990s, which they continued to pay out through 2002.
Also, much of the special giving related to Sept. 11, 2001 was actually paid out in 2002.
Central Maryland is the state's foundation center. Baltimore and the five surrounding counties are home to 47 percent of the state's foundations. These Central Maryland foundations accounted for 74 percent of the state's foundation assets and 67 percent of the state's foundation giving in 2002.
More foundation dollars in Maryland go to human services than to any other category: 28 percent of foundation dollars in 2002 supported human services; 17 percent went to educational causes and institutions; and 14 percent went to health.
Much of Maryland foundation money stayed in Maryland. About 39 percent of Maryland foundation grants in 2002 went to Maryland-based organizations. The bulk of these went to organizations in Central Maryland ($195 million out of $238 million).
Sometimes people are surprised that more foundation dollars don't stay in the state. It's important to remember that millions of dollars come into Maryland nonprofit organizations from foundations based in the other 49 states.
Don't forget that foundation giving is just one piece of the puzzle. In the United States in 2002, foundations gave about 11 percent of total charitable dollars. Individual giving accounts for the lion's share of giving: about 76 percent.
The remainder is made up of corporate giving (5 percent) and individual bequests (7.5 percent). Given the relatively small percentage of giving that foundations account for, you might wonder how important that giving really can be. Foundations fill several special roles.
They provide seed money for experimental ideas or innovative projects that government and individuals might not fund. They fund capacity building for organizations to strengthen them. Some foundations try to fill gaps, focusing on historically underserved populations.
What does this mean for all of us who live and work in Maryland? Nearly 1,400 groups of people — families, companies, institutions — have put large sums of money into the public trust to improve our communities.
Our grant-making foundations are thriving, despite the downturns in the economy, and continue to support worthy causes that improve the quality of life in the state.
When we each write our own individual checks to charitable causes this year, we can know that we are joined by foundation trustees donating millions of dollars to help people in Maryland.
And about those individual checks. … Later this winter, ABAG will release a report on individual charitable giving in Maryland. To read the entire foundation giving report, visit www.abagmd.org.
Betsy Nelson is executive director of the Association of Baltimore Area Grantmakers. Her column appears every other week.
Other archived articles from ABAG's Adventures in Philanthropy Column:
"Charitable Giving - How to Build Healthy Neighborhoods"
"Charitable Giving - Neighborhood Excellence Initiative"
"Charitable Giving - Annie E. Casey Exec Inspires"
"Charitable Giving - Maryland's eSource for Advisors"
"Charitable Giving - Local Donor Collaborations"
"Charitable Giving - ABC and African-American Philanthropy"
"Charitable Giving - Local Foundations Show Support for Baltimore School System "
Charitable Giving: Maryland Business Giving Workbook
Charitable Giving - Take care with the Care Act
"Charitable Giving - Local Foundation Investment in Baltimore High School Reform"
"Charitable Giving - Shape Up...Live Well"
Charitable Giving - The Cost of Raising Money
CareFirst plus WellPoint equals foundation
Charitable Giving - National Philanthropy Day Celebrates Giving in Maryland
Charitable Giving - A Plan of One's Own: A Woman's Guide to Philanthropy
Charitable Giving - Defining moments
Charitable Giving - Corporate Caring
Charitable Giving - Conflicts of Interest
The Baltimore Fund of the TRF Urban Growth Partners
Teaching That Achievement Counts
"Charitable Giving - Good Time to Decide How Much to Give"
Charitable Giving - Capital/Endowment Fund Campaigns
Making Education a Priority
Charitable Giving - B'MORE Fund
State of Giving
How Effective Nonprofits Work
"Charitable Giving - Women Begin to Realize Full Potential as Philanthropists, Expert Says"
"Charitable Giving - Charitable Planning from the Advisor's Perspective"
"Charitable Giving - Expanding Corporate Giving"
"Charitable Giving - IYF Addresses Critical Concerns Facing Youth"
"Charitable Giving - Strategic Planning Part One
"Charitable Giving - Tips for Developing a Strategic Business Plan"
"Charitable Giving - There's A Right Way to Do the Right Thing"
"Charitable Giving - While You're Passing the Turkey, Take a Minute to Reflect"
"Charitable Giving - What We Give and Where It Goes"
"Charitable Giving - MD Companies Working to Make Holidays Special for Less Fortunate"
"Charitable Giving - Coming Together: Global Community Responds to a Natural Disaster"
"Charitable Giving - National Philanthropy Day Winners"
"Charitable Giving - Role of the Nonprofit Board"
Reason to believe
Charitable Giving - Technology & nonprofits
Charitable Giving - Advice to foundations
Charitable Giving - New resource for nonprofit groups
Charitable Giving - Inspired philanthropy
Charitable Giving - Developing Leaders
Charitable Giving - Wanted: Professional volunteers
Donor Advised Funds
"Charitable Giving - Salute to T. Rowe Price
"Charitable Giving - Teacher Appreciation Fund"
Charitable Giving - Youth and Volunteers
Charitable Giving - To Honor Mothers
"Charitable Giving - Future of philanthropy"
"Charitable Giving - Contributions to charities"
"Charitable Giving - Giving in tough times"
"Charitable Giving - Celebrating special occasions with philanthropy"
"Charitable Giving - B'MORE Fund"
"Charitable Giving - 20 years of building a community of grantmakers"
"Charitable Giving - Building a more effective board"
"Charitable Giving - When nonprofits discover the executive chair empty"
"Charitable Giving - Sustaining Yourself"
"Charitable Giving - Community development in Baltimore"
"Charitable Giving - Resource at Risk"
"Charitable Giving - Fundraising"
Maryland's Community Foundations: For Good and For Ever
Advisors
Knott Nonprofit Leadership Initiative
Digital Bridge Initiative
Dollars for doers'
Businesses Earn State Tax Credits Through Nonprofit Giving
Leadership Program of Their Own
CHARITABLE GIVING
Maryland foundations and corporations respond to tragedy
Reason to believe
Where's the Good News?
Turning the Corner
How to get youth involved in civic life
Recognizing Volunteers
Standards for Excellence
Considerations for Endowment Gifts
Determining what works
New directions for philanthropy
Giving through a business partnership
Your business can make a difference
A helping hand for helping hands
Donate Your Rebate – Maryland!
Leave a Legacy
Forming a Circle of Giving
Cultivating civically engaged young people through work, service
Celebrating the Spirit of Giving
Thanks/Giving Day
Stocks in the Future
Baltimore Neighborhood Collaborative
The Great Wealth Transfer
Investing in Our Community
In the Wake of Sept. 11
Adventures in Philanthropy
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