The research relies on a data set provided by the Foundation Center that captures all community and economic development grants of at least $10,000 made by the 1,000 largest foundations between 2008 and 2013. The analysis finds that some metro areas received a substantially greater level of philanthropic support for community and economic development than did others during this period. Regression analyses indicate that the presence of a large foundation, the density of the nonprofit sector, the size of the population, and the poverty rate are among the factors positively associated with per capita grant receipt.
- Infographic: This infographic illustrates the primary findings of the research.
- Following the Money online tool: Through this interactive application developed by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, users can learn more about the level of grant receipt and civic capacity calculated for the metro areas in the study.
- Following the Money: An Analysis of Foundation Grantmaking for Community and Economic Development: This article, published in a special issue of the Foundation Review, provides a detailed summary of the research.
- Beyond the Numbers: A Qualitative Exploration of “Following the Money: An Analysis of Foundation Grantmaking for Community and Economic Development"
This qualitative companion report provides insights from a sample of key informants throughout the Third Federal Reserve District on the metro area and organizational factors that affect a community’s ability to attract foundation support for community and economic development (CED) activities. The report explores in more depth the factors at play in determining where philanthropic capital flows and gains the perspective of nonprofits on the role of local and national philanthropic support for CED efforts.