The East Bay Community Foundation is one of the largest sources of philanthropic funding for local needs, according to a study conducted by the Foundation Center, an authority on organized philanthropy worldwide.

Oakland non-profit organizations received $237 million in grants of $10,000 or more from the nearly 1,500 large foundations included in the Foundation Center’s 2008 grants sample. More than one-third of this giving—$86.2 million—targeted organizations that primarily serve Oakland and the East Bay, with California foundations providing the vast majority of this support.

The East Bay Community Foundation provided more grants (175) than any other funder in the sample to local organizations serving Oakland and the East Bay, according to the research. We also ranked second on a list of 50 foundations contributing the most to Oakland and the East Bay at $14.8 million. These grants from our donors and our own endowment represented only a fraction of the foundation’s overall commitment to the area, however.

More than three out of five grant dollars we award each year benefit the East Bay. If the study included grants of less than $10,000, it would have shown we provided over $38 million in 2007-08 and more than $28 million in 2008-09 to benefit causes and needs in the East Bay, including Alameda and Contra Costa counties.

Since adopting a new strategy in 2008 that focuses on advancing economic opportunity for adults and families in need and on ensuring very young children are successful in the education system so they have better economic opportunity as adults, the Foundation has funneled $3.5 million to those two related causes in the East Bay.

To view the results of the research, click here.