The just-released 54th annual report on philanthropy, Giving USA, illustrates the impact of the economic recession on the nonprofit industry. The nonprofit community has been greatly impacted by the recession, and will continue to be into the near future. The $307.65 billion estimate in giving last year represents a decline of $6.42 billion or 2 percent (5.7percent when adjusted for inflation). This represents the largest drop recorded since Giving USA has been keeping track of America’s donations and the first drop since 1987.

The largest drop in giving was experienced by foundations, which were down 19 percent (22 percent when adjusted for inflation), to $32.65 billion, or 10.6 percent of total giving. At the same time, foundation grant making increased by 3 percent (or .8 percent when adjusted for inflation). This illustrates the financial squeeze for many community foundations, which have granted out flat or increased dollars in response to increased community needs, despite a drop in giving to the foundations themselves. Individual giving dropped 2.7 percent (6.3 percent when adjusted for inflation), charitable bequests decreased 2.8 percent (6.4 percent when adjusted for inflation), and corporate giving dropped 4.5 percent (8 percent when adjusted for inflation).

Two-thirds of public charities receiving donations saw decreases in 2008. The exceptions were Religion, Public-Society Benefit and International Affairs organizations.

The 54th annual report on philanthropy, Giving USA, a publication of Giving USA Foundation, researched and written by the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, was released June 10. To view the report, click here.

The family of Rufus and Mary DeWitt established a fund in their parent’s name to honor their legacy of community service. Rufus always fought on behalf of those in need. As the first black executive director of a San Diego County YMCA, he was an exemplary role model who left the community in better condition than he found it.
Mary was an educator who taught for more than 40 years in San Diego, Alabama and Tennessee. An active community member, she was a major force behind the Martin Luther King Jr. Pageant and Parade and served as a founding member of Women, Inc. The fund supports development and education for disadvantaged youth of southeast San Diego.

Grant Making Approved by Board of Governors

Several local organizations will receive critical funds, now that the Board has approved the first round of this year’s discretionary grants. The grants were approved after Board members received a list of proposed organizations for grant approval, along with recommended grant amounts, for several Foundation focus areas. The docket was prepared after working groups and staff members spent extensive time and effort reviewing grant proposals, attending site visits and coming to agreement on the most appropriate organizations to recommend for funding.

In this docket, the board approved a total of 23 grants, equaling $1,174,774, for local organizations and institutions. Grants will go out across several areas, including the environment, providing funding to organizations through the Clean Environments, Health Communities Initiative, the Land and Watershed Initiative and the Environmental Blasker Grants. Funding will also be provided through the Science & Technology Blasker Grant Program and the Health & Human Services Community Grant Program.

This month, The San Diego Foundation hosted more than 100 members of our Legacy League at an exclusive luncheon at the Japanese Friendship Garden. Those in attendance have a future promised gift to The Foundation. During the event, we honored the memory of Lilyan and Tom Frank, who remembered The San Diego Foundation in their estate plan, and whose gift we received this year. The gift established two endowment funds; the first to support the Japanese Friendship Garden and the second to support the rose and cactus garden in Balboa Park.

During the luncheon, Randy Neely, Lilyan and Tom’s nephew, introduced guests to his aunt and uncle and shared how the couple enjoyed the gardens in the park, which is what led them to consider the park as a beneficiary of their estate. We gratefully acknowledge all of those who have done the same.

For more information on setting up a legacy fund, please contact our Charitable Giving Team at givingteam@sdfoundation.org or 619-235-2300.

HALF A BILLION DOLLARS MAY BE COMING TO SAN DIEGO
Creating Renewed Hope for San Diego’s Future:
The Foundation Releases The Wealth Transfer Study

During this challenging economic time, The San Diego Foundation is pleased to provide positive news through the release of Our Region’s Future Funding: The Transfer of Wealth in San Diego County Over the Next 25 Years.

According to the study, the transfer of wealth opportunity in San Diego is not just real…it’s substantial. Working with conservative projections, the study makes the case that the county’s transfer of wealth could be as much as $200 billion over the next 25 years, creating as much as $500 million for the greater San Diego region as dollars are passed from one generation to the next and legacies are built. The study was conducted by the RUPRI Center for Rural Entrepreneurship.

Perhaps now is the time to look past the current recession, and out to the future. Perhaps now is the time to ask the question…what if? What if the transfer of wealth was $200 billion over the next 25 years, creating $500 million for San Diego?

• What could we do with our beaches? Our schools? Our environment?
• How could we enhance the arts? The theatre? The symphony?
• What possibilities lie ahead in the areas of scientific research?

We believe everyone should be informed and think about the impact of this study on San Diego. We invite you to read the newly released report and find renewed hope for San Diego’s future.

To read Our Region’s Future Funding: The Transfer of Wealth in San Diego County Over the Next 25 Years, click here.
For information on the methodology of the study, click here.
The time to plan for San Diego’s future is now. Click here for five things you can do to get started!

To contact The San Diego Foundation and begin to make a difference for San Diego, contact our Charitable Giving Team at givingteam@sdfoundation.org or 619-235-2300.