Publications

Reflections on the Past & Possibilities for the Future
To celebrate WRAG's 20th anniversary, we decided to not just look back on our history, but to look forward to the future. In doing so, we hope that our new report - Reflections on the Past & Possibilities for the Future - will give you food for thought about WRAG's past and also about what philanthropy in our region will look like over the next 20 years.

In the "Reflections on the Past" section, former WRAG board chairs share their thoughts on WRAG's evolution over the last two decades. In the "Possibilities for the Future" section, local academics share their vision for WRAG's future while philanthropic thought leaders consider the future of the field of philanthropy.

Also, we look at hard numbers to see what philanthropy in the Greater Washington region looked like 20 years ago compared to today - and how our region compares to trends in the wider United States.

Featuring essays by: Alan Abramson, Pablo Eisenberg, Joel Fleishman, Robert Grimm, Gabriel Kasper, Kathy Kretman, Dan Pallotta, and Susan Raymond.

This report was generously sponsored by Capital One and giving data was produced in partnership with the Foundation Center.

Our Region, Our Giving - 2012 Edition
We are excited to release this year's Our Region, Our Giving. For the last few years, conversations in philanthropy have focused on the challenges brought on by the financial crisis and ensuing recession. With this year's report, we're happy to say that we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. In 2010 - the lastest year for which IRS data is available - both giving and assets solidly increased in our region. Estimates for 2011 show slight decreases in both categories, but nothing nearly as drastic as we saw during the crisis. Things seem to be stabilizing.

The report also includes financial information about the region's top funders, giving and assets by state and local jurisdiction, and lists of the region's nonprofits receiving the most funding dollars from local funders in four areas - arts & culture, education, health, and human services. Read the full report here.

Our Region, Our Giving was produced in partnership with the Foundation Center and made possible through generous support from Capital One.

Our Region, Our Giving - 2011 Edition
This month marks the 100th anniversary of organized philanthropy, and with the anniversary we find ourselves in a challenging period of modern philanthropy. With the final release of 2009 data, this year's edition of the Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers' Our Region, Our Giving takes a comprehensive look at how the economic crisis impacted philanthropy in our region. Total giving and assets dropped considerably - 8 percent and 2.6 percent, respectively - but a closer look at the region's leaders reveals a different narrative.

Despite major asset losses as high as 45 percent, about half of the top funders actually increased their giving, one by more than 47 percent. [Read more.]


2010 Giving Report: Our Region, Our Giving
Foundation giving in the region dropped by 9.6% in 2009, an unprecedented decline after foundation assets took a historic hit in 2008. As Tamara Lucas Copeland to the explained to the Washington Post, it was a year with more collaboration than in the past, as foundations, businesses, nonprofits and governments worked together more closely to try to find solutions and make dollars stretch further. "The economy was down, needs were skyrocketing... What was clear was that business as usual wasn't going to work."

2010 Mid-Year Report: Beyond Dollars for Big Change
When the size of the economic downturn and its potential impact on foundation giving first became clear, Washington Grantmakers began to focus on other routes to progress: funders' ability to build partnerships, to be strong voices for change, to leverage key resources, and to capitalize on timing and momentum. In this report, you will find highlights from our year so far.

"Beyond Dollars: Investing in BIG Change - How Washington Area Grantmakers Are Creating Lasting Impact" (.pdf)

• Washington grantmakers are embracing "Big Change," attacking problems at their core with a long-term vision.
• Area grantmakers can drive "Big Change" by capitalizing on timing and momentum; being a strong voice for change; leveraging resources; and building true partnerships.
• There's more "Big Change" philanthropy ahead, despite the recession. In fact, the recession has spurred grantmakers to take advantage of their assets beyond dollars.
• "Big Change" philanthropy gets results.

Survey: Grantmaking in 2009 & 2010 (.pdf)

• The recession has served as a crucible for many grantmakers, providing an impetus to reduce expenses, reevaluate priorities, and promote and engage in collaboration.
• A lower percentage of grantmakers reported a decrease in assets in 2009 (65%) than in 2008 (86%). Some saw a decline in 2009 as a result of increasing their payout rates.
• Grantmakers expect to give fewer grants in 2010 than in 2009.
• More respondents expect their grants budgets to decrease than increase in 2010. Nearly half expect a decline; roughly one in six expect a decline of 5% or less. Nearly one-third expect grants budgets to increase. Approximately one-quarter are not sure.