Charting

1. Where does the charting data come from?

The charting data comes from the FDO Professional grants database. This database includes detailed descriptions of more than 1.8 million grants awarded by approximately 20,000 U.S. grantmakers.

2. How many grantmakers include charting functionality?

Approximately 20,000 of the over 98,000 U.S. grantmakers in FDO Professional include charting functionality. For some of these grantmakers, data can be charted for multiple years. For others, data can be charted for one or two years only.

3. What is the difference between Recipient Type and Primary Subject?

Each grant in the FDO Professional grants database is assigned a Recipient Type term identifying the specific field or subject area of interest reflected by the grant recipient's activities and a Subject term identifying the specific field or subject area of interest reflected by the grant itself. For example, "Hospitals (general)" might be the Recipient Type term of a grant while "Art & music therapy" might be the Subject term. When multiple Subject terms are assigned to a grant, a Primary Subject term is designated. If the purpose of a grant is unknown and a Subject term can not be assigned, the Recipient Type term is used by default. Recipient Type and Subject terms are based on the National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities (NTEE), originally developed by the National Center for Charitable Statistics.

4. Is each grant charted only once or are grants assigned with multiple Subject terms double-counted?

Each grant is charted only once; there is no double-counting. A Primary Subject term is designated for grants assigned with multiple Subject terms and the grant will be charted based on that term.

5. What size are the grants represented in a chart?

Approximately half of the grants in the FDO Professional grants database are over $10,000 and half are under $10,000. All grants are at least $1,000.

6. Does the year represent the calendar year or the grantmaker's fiscal year?

The year represents the grantmaker's fiscal year.

7. Does the year represent the year that grants were paid or the year that grants were authorized?

The year can represent either the year that grants were paid or the year that grants were authorized. Of course, many grants are paid in the same year that they are authorized.

8. How often is the charting data updated?

All data in FDO is updated weekly.

9. How many years of grants are included in the charting data?

The charting data includes no more than seven years of grants, including the current year. We're able to include grants from the current year because we don't rely solely on the IRS Form 990-PF to update the data in our grants database. For example, many of the largest foundations submit electronic grants lists to us on a regular basis. This enables us to include this data in our grants database long before it appears on the 990-PF. Electronic grant reporting accounts for many of the most recent grants that appear in our database. Grantmakers that report their grants to us electronically can be identified by the eGrant Reporter icon located at the top of their grantmaker profiles.

10. What are the benefits of electronic grant reporting?

Other than currency, which is critical to grantseekers and others using FDO, another benefit of electronic grant reporting is accuracy. There is less chance of error when grants are conveyed electronically and the foundation itself has more control over which Recipient Type and Subject terms are assigned to a grant.

11. How long does it take for electronically reported grants to appear in Foundation Directory Online?

Our target for processing all electronically reported grants is within ten business days of receipt of data files that follow our guidelines. In some cases, grants might take longer to process if we receive an unusually high volume of data.

12. What does my foundation receive if it reports its grants electronically to the Foundation Center?

Other than the benefits mentioned above, foundations that report their grants to us electronically are entitled to direct links to FDO Professional maps and charts reflecting their grants. These complimentary maps and charts can be used by staff, included in presentations to the foundation's board, or posted online for the general public.

13. How does my foundation become an electronic grant reporter?

It's very easy to become an electronic grant reporter. All that is required is an electronic file, such as an Excel file, that follows certain guidelines and includes certain information. Additionally, several grants management software products already include an option to submit electronic grants lists to us. For more information on electronic grant reporting, please visit the Grantmakers section of our web site or contact Kati Neiheisel, Electronic Grant Reporting Liaison, at kmn@foundationcenter.org or (212) 807-3675.