Focus on the Economy
SCG offers funders the following resources and tools as a way to stay informed on issues impacting the philanthropic sector and communities we serve.
In The News
April 3, 2012
Nonprofit Finance Fund's State of the Sector 2012, funded by the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, reveals a growth in service demand that has overwhelmed organizations still coping with a brittle economy and dire funding cuts.
January 15, 2012
October 28, 2011
August 10, 2011
The Chronicle of Philanthropy reports on the possibility that America will face a double-dip recession and the possible impact on philanthropy and the nonprofit sector.
Philanthropic Research
California Foundations 1999-2009: Growth Amid Adversity, released by the University of Southern California's Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy, outlines several key giving trends of the past decade, including a growing percentage of total giving by small foundations and the robust role of community foundations in the state.
The UCLA Center for Civil Society's report Hard Times: Impacts, Actions and Prospects - The State of the Nonprofit Sector in Los Angeles 2010 continues research the Center for Civil Society began in 2009 on how nonprofits are faring during the economic downturn and looks closely at questions raised after the release of the previous report.
2010-2011 Economic Forecast and Industry Outlook: Mid-Year Update for California and Southern California, released by The Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, The Kyser Center for Economic Research.
Through a grant from the California Women's Foundation, The California Budget Project recently released the report Making Ends Meet: How Much Does It Cost to Raise a Family in California? This report estimates different types of families need to earn to cover basic expenses in every count of the state.
Philanthropy in Frugal Times, in The Wealth Collection, examines how the financial crisis has caused donors to reconsider the way they give and what they expect their chosen organizations to achieve.
In the Midst of the Great Recession: The State of Working California 2009 is the California Budget Project's analysis of the recession's impact on the California job market and the quality of life for Californians.
The Foundation Center has compiled information on how the Largest 50 Foundations in California Respond to the Economic Crisis.
The Foundation and Corporate Response to the Economic Crisis: An Update, released by the Foundation Center in July 2009, provides updates on how grantmakers are responding to the economic downturn.
Impact of the 2007-09 Economic Recession on Nonprofit Organizations, released by the Johns Hopkins Center for Civil Society Studies' Listening Post Project, is a nation-wide survey of nonprofit organizations working in the fields of children and family services, elderly housing and services, education, community and economic development and the arts.
The Council on Foundation's Economic Xchange focuses on how the economy is impacting the philanthropic field. Survey results on how foundations are responding to declining assets, released by the Council in May, reveal that 62 percent of foundations planned to reduce their grantmaking in 2009. The complete survey results are available on the Council on Foundations website.
The Foundation Center released its 2009 Survey Results on how foundations plan to address the economic downturn, including a variety of non-grantmaking measures that will help to fulfill their missions. Strategies include collaborations and partnerships, technical assistance, advocacy work and staff-led activities.
Grantmakers for Effective Organizations published Smarter Grantmaking in Challenging Times: Insights for Foundation Leaders in May 2009. This brief document outlines practical strategies, recommendations and examples of how to support grantees in the current economic climate.
