International grantmaking by community foundations in the US is becoming a more common practice for community foundations of varied sizes, geographies, and types. The Council on Foundations and Foundation Center published a new report in May 2016 that analyzed global grantmaking by the largest community foundations in the US.

The report shows that in 2014, 85 per cent of the largest community foundations made at least one grant internationally, compared to 67 per cent in 2002. The amount of global giving is also increasing, with global programme funding doubling between 2010 and 2014, and more than $1.3 billion in documented international giving by US community foundations between 2002 and 2014.

The report includes analysis of grantmaking data and qualitative interviews highlighting how five community foundations are engaging internationally. Historically, US community foundations have been considered local, place‑based institutions that serve as community anchors and leaders for local needs within a specific geography.

This first‑ever analysis of international grantmaking by the largest US community foundations shows a broader, more nuanced definition of ‘community’ for these institutions today.