The Foundation Center has identified more than 38,701 independent foundations with measurable donor or donor-family involvement. These “family foundations” represent more than half of all independent foundations and account for similar shares of independent foundations’ giving, assets, and new gifts and bequests from donors. If all of the nation’s family foundations could be identified, these shares would undoubtedly rise.

Between 2008 and 2009, giving by grantmaking family foundations decreased 4 percent. The reduction stood in contrast to the 14.4 percent increase in the prior year.