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Traditionally, grantmaking foundations have been considered inaccessible and elitist institutions with secretive decisions made behind closed doors by powerful board members. During the 1970s, a growing number of books, funding directories, national philanthropic organizations, and specialized fundraising periodicals began profiling foundation activity. The current web site explosion has made information about the largest foundations easily accessible for anyone with a charitable impulse.

Unfortunately this trend towards growing accessibility has resulted in a slushpile syndrome. Some foundations are responding to the deluge of often inappropriate and poorly conceived proposals by refusing to continue accepting unsolicited applications. While grantmakers struggle against overwhelming piles of paperwork on one side of the equation, grantseekers on the other side must be far more diligent about targeting appropriate funders, researching giving patterns, following guidelines explicitly, and building a compelling case.

Not all the news is bad. Record stock market gains have led high-tech millionaires to start new foundations, and established grantmakers have growing assets to support charitable activities. Learn more about philanthropic trends, emerging funding priorities, and changing expectations in the relationship between grantmaker and recipient organization.

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