The Grants Classification System tracks 24 major beneficiary groups. If the intended beneficiary includes more than one population group, the grant is added to the total amount reported for each applicable category. Because grants may be counted more than once, each category is analyzed as a percentage of the total grant dollars and number of grants reported in the sample.
- Fewer than half (47 percent) of foundation grants in the sample were targeted to specified beneficiary groups in 2006, while the majority of grants were unspecified or intended to benefit the general public.
- The economically disadvantaged accounted for the largest share of giving in 2006—21 percent of grant dollars and 20 percent of grants.
- Children and youth slipped to second place by share of grant dollars.
- People with AIDS showed the largest percentage gain, followed by single parents and the economically disadvantaged.
- Substance abusers, military veterans, and crime and abuse victims experienced the largest percentage declines in funding.
View chart on Major Grant Beneficiary Groups, 2006 (PDF)