2012 Outlook Report

Source: Minnesota Council on Foundations 01/09/2012

To assess the outlook for grantmaking in Minnesota in 2012, the MCF conducted its annual Outlook survey, asking foundations and corporate giving programs to predict how their 2012 giving will compare to 2011. A total of 104 organizations responded, representing 76 percent of annual grantmaking in the state.

Highlights from the Report

According to MCF’s 2012 Outlook Report survey, Minnesota grantmakers predict a relatively stable 2012, with grantmaking estimated to be flat or increase about one percent from 2011.

• Many foundations anticipate that assets will rise in 2012: 45 percent expect their assets to increase, while 39 percent predict they will stay the same. Most grantmakers who expect higher assets forecast increases to be less than 5 percent.
• A strong majority (70 percent) of grantmakers expects to continue with current grantmaking priorities and programs in 2012, compared with 61 percent in 2011 versus 2010, as reported in MCF’s 2011 Outlook Report.
• Twenty-three of 77 education funders surveyed predict they will increase their giving to education in 2012. Arts, culture, and humanities is the only subject area to which more grantmakers expect to decrease funding than plan to increase it.