Foundation Assets Drop over $200 billion in First Half

While we won’t know the level of 2022 foundation giving until well after foundations have closed their books for the year (foundations are required to file a form annually with the IRS detailing the amounts and recipients of grants, but with a significant time lag), we can make an informed estimate on giving levels with two very important caveats. 

• “If” Number 1: Asset levels remain at (or close to) current levels.
  • Asset levels and grantmaking amounts go hand in hand, the higher the assets, the greater the giving and vice versa.  Investment performance is by far the biggest variable in forecasting assets and by extension, grantmaking amounts. Clearly, it is impossible to peer into the future to see where financial markets end the year.   Rather than take any kind of position on future investment performance, the default is to use current  asset levels.  So the first big “if” is the assumption that asset levels remain close to where they are now.  If global equity markets improve, we would adjust the forecast higher, conversely if markets fall, so too would the grantmaking forecast.  
• “If” Number 2: Giving as a percentage of assets stay in line with historical patterns, or about 8% of three year average assets.
  • There is a common misconception that foundations distribute 5% of their assets each year.  The 5% rule is that foundations must make qualifying disbursements of at least 5% of their average assets or risk losing their tax advantaged status.  The reality is that foundations disburse about 8% of the three year rolling average assets. Link So the second “if” is the assumption that foundations will stick to their payout ratios.  It bears noting that the variability of payout ratios is quite small historically, so this assumption is a relatively safe bet.