Every year, I eagerly await the release of Giving USA's Annual Report on Philanthropy. I first encountered this work when I was a student in graduate school, at the very school that produces this incredible amount of information. Giving USA is considered one of the BEST sources for summarizing giving in America. Charitable giving in America continues to be one of the very things that demonstrates our commitment as Americans to serving one another. The results reported inspire and motivate me to personally do more and to be better.

 

For the first time, charitable giving exceeded the $400 billion mark, with increases in all four sources of giving: individuals, foundations, bequests and corporations. Total giving was just over $410 billion with a growth rate of just over 5% from 2016. Of the 10 subsectors tracked, giving to foundations increased 15.5%, which was the largest gain in any subsector accounting for $45.89 billion.

 

Where did those generous gifts go? Religious organizations received 31%, education 14%, human services 12%, foundations 11%, health 9%, public-society benefit 7%, arts/culture/humanities 5%, international affairs 6%, environment/animal causes 3%, and individuals 2%. Eight out of nine major charitable sub-sectors saw increased contributions in 2017, compared with 2016.

 

As a community foundation, we get lumped into the "foundation" subsector, despite significant differences between us and what most people think of as a traditional foundation. For most traditional foundations, the majority of the funds they hold, and in turn the grantmaking they do, is discretionary. While their support may be limited to a specific field of interest, they still make the decisions as to where and how grant dollars will go. For us here at MCF, the opposite is true. As I mentioned last month, we are the agent of the philanthropist in service to Montana. We help find, explore, channel, and maximize the charitable giving of generous individuals. Most importantly, we help preserve and ensure that charitable giving forever by endowing it in permanent funds.

 

MCF isn't a foundation as most people conceive of one, with millions of dollars to grant as we see fit. Instead, we are much more like Montana's endowment, comprised of many specific funds, all for the benefit of this amazing place we are fortunate enough to call home. Together, we are creating a permanent place where Montana philanthropy lives and grows. Thank you for entrusting us with your generosity.