Based on data collected through the annual Foundation Operations and Management Report, additional surveys, and interviews with Exponent Philanthropy members, this report centers on the relevance of racial equity to foundations' mission, as well as their board and staff demographics. The report also discusses how racial equity relates to good governance, grantmaking, and investment practices. The data suggest that one of the most effective ways to increase board diversity is to expand the size of a foundation's board. The demographic makeup of a foundation's board was the most reliable indicator of how relevant racial equity is to the foundation.

This report addresses the intersection of climate resilience and racial wealth equity in Atlanta. Most City of Atlanta residents surveyed (69 percent) shared concern over potential climate impacts to their homes and property. These concerns served as the backdrop to everyday challenges such as paying for utilities, the high cost of living, and building wealth. The report shows that when faced with climate, environmental, and everyday financial challenges, residents chose collective action and resilience. Aid programs, guaranteed energy bill savings, and cash rebates up front were some of the more popular ways residents said could help them protect their homes and weather the growing climate crisis. The authors offer steps stakeholders can take to help Black communities safeguard assets, reduce vulnerabilities, and protect lives, including investing in home weatherization programs, expanding LHEAP assistance, and increasing environmental regulations.

On the 250th anniversary of the nation's independence, this publication traces key deveopments in the history of the United States and the evolution of charitable giving and corporate philanthropy in American culture. In addition to a timeline of notable events, the report includes profiles of corporate funders and the history of their philanthropic initiatives and a look at the future direction of corporate giving.

Health foundations use the term "public health" in varied ways, reflecting how its boundaries have expanded beyond governmental public health into the social determinants of health (SDOH), equity, and the environment. While foundation leaders broadly agree on the population-level nature of public health, they apply the concept differently depending on community needs and priorities, organizational histories, and strategic approaches to advancing health. This report is grounded in discussions with a diverse set of philanthropic and public health leaders about the current state of the field. It aims to assess how foundations view public health and their guiding frameworks, as well as to identify lessons learned and priorities for strengthening the public health ecosystem.

The Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program was created as part of H.R.1, a budget reconciliation bill that included significant reductions to federal health care spending, to help offset significant reductions to federal health care spending. This issue brief is a high-level analysis of major themes as identified from initiatives and strategies in state applications, reflecting the primary foci of each state's RHT program. Based on this analysis, the authors offer several recommendations for grantmaker investment and action in support of RHT initiatives and, ultimately, improving the health and well-being of rural communities.

While transitions most often include challenges, readying the organization to effectively move through them can provide great comfort and increased confidence for leaders and decision-makers. This guide offers leaders in family philanthropy a framework to think about transitions in straightforward, realistic, and actionable ways. The author draws upon lessons from many well-known change management models, including Lewin's Change Theory, Kotter's Methodology, and Bridges Transition Model. While the governance structure of private foundations is such that boards of directors are critical to many transitions outlined in this guide, the framework applies to leaders of all types of family philanthropies, including those that do not have a board.

The 2026 Trust in Civil Society report showed that trust in nonprofits held study from 2025, fueled by the belief that nonprofits are making things better in America. Trust in philanthropy dipped slightly in 2026 and remains significantly lower than trust in nonprofits. The perceived independence of nonprofit organizations from profit motives drives stronger trust in their integrity and societal role compared to corporations. Over half of respondents believe nonprofits serve a unique role in driving community access to voter registration. Further involvement in election activities splits public opinion, but trust in nonprofit election activities has risen significantly from 2025.

Recent research has highlighted that the social sector is in a state of distress. Funding cuts and political pressure have resulted in financial instability for many nonprofits, leading to difficult choices around winding down programs, roles, and sometimes entire organizations. Data on nonprofit cuts or closures is notoriously hard to find. This post discusses Candid's steps to utilize artificial intelligence and other technologies to develop new and innovative methods of tracking nonprofit closures and job cuts.

Capital is the fuel that drives the operations and growth of an enterprise, whether it's structured as a for profit company or a nonprofit organization. But the capital markets that serve these enterprises differ significantly in how they invest - differences that often compromise the financial strength and resilience of the nonprofit sector. This publication outlines the challenges that nonprofits face when seeking funding from the capital markets that serve nonprofits and describes the role and value provided by providing "enterprise-level capital", or philanthropic equity, as a best practice. The Blueprint also offers a product design and program delivery structure for use by funders and investors ready to launch an initiative. It closes by calling for the creation of 21st century nonprofit capital markets where enterprise capital plays an essential role in ensuring that philanthropy rises to this challenge.

Each year, Candid surveys U.S. foundations to learn more about their recent grant payments, giving forecast, and grantmaking practices. Nearly half of respondents (44.3%) expected their foundation's giving to increase year-over-year in 2026, while another 46.9% expect it to remain about the same. Only 8.8% expected a decrease. Despite calls for foundations to increase giving in response to Federal funding changes, foundation payout rates in FYE 2025 overall did not meaningfully change from previous years for independent foundations and remained at 5 percent. Furthermore, when comparing self-reported payout rates over the last five years of survey data, the median has been locked at 5 percent. The average has fluctuated from 6.7% to 7.5%, with higher-outliers driving up rates. This lack of change has persisted despite external shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic, market swings, or high inflation.