Press Room - Connecticut Council for Philanthropy

HARTFORD, CT -- June 17, 2009 -- A report produced by the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy finds Connecticut’s top 100 grantmakers gave more dollars ($188.1 million) to organizations outside of the state than to those in Connecticut ($129.2 million). At the same time, another survey by the Foundation Center reported 40 foundations outside of Connecticut provided over $169 million in grants to Connecticut nonprofit organizations. The report, Top 100 Grantmakers in Connecticut, presents data, compiled by the Foundation Center on behalf of the Connecticut Council, on all grants in 2005 over $2,000 made by those foundations, to provide some insight into what issues and regions are being funded, and by whom.

This first ever analysis of giving by foundations in Connecticut examined 8,084 grants totaling $317.3 million. The 100 largest foundations gave $358.3 million or 70% of the $509.6 million granted by all Connecticut foundations in 2005. Approximately $30 million could not be analyzed either because they were grants of less than $2,000 or there was not enough information to code the grants. Although the majority of community foundation giving remained in the state, a majority of corporate, family and independent foundation money left the state. Of the $317.3 million analyzed, family and independent foundations contributed 65% or $208 million with 24.5% going to Connecticut nonprofits, corporate foundations gave 20% or $64.5 million with 4.2% going to Connecticut nonprofits, and community foundations gave 12% or $37.5 million with 87.3% going to Connecticut nonprofits.

When reviewing giving by issue area in the state, the largest share of grant dollars – 28% – went to education, which tracks with the rest of the country. Human services follows with 26%, health received 15%, public affairs/society benefit received 13%, arts & culture received 12% and other areas (environment & animals, international affairs, religion, science & technology and social sciences) received 6%.

Of the $129.2 million given to Connecticut nonprofit organizations by the top 100 grantmakers, Hartford County received the largest amount of funding ($51.8 million) followed by Fairfield County ($35.8 million), and New Haven County ($24.9 million). Windham County received the least amount of grant dollars ($553,799). In terms of location of the top 100 grantmakers, the largest number are located in Fairfield County (56) followed by Hartford County (24) and New Haven County (13).

The full report can be found at www.ctphilanthropy.org. Research for the report was supported by Aetna Foundation, The Melville Charitable Trust and the Nellie Mae Education Foundation.

The Connecticut Council for Philanthropy, a statewide association of grantmakers, is committed to strengthening and promoting effective philanthropy in Connecticut. The Council works to leverage the knowledge and assets of its members, promote and advance grantmaking practices and communicate the impact of philanthropy.