Is it true that foundations in a few states give most of the grants?

Since 1975, five states have accounted for roughly half of overall grant dollars. Still, there were some changes among the top-ranked states. By region, changes were even more pronounced. Population shifts, booming Sun Belt economies, and the rapid creation of new wealth in the West and South have all contributed to major shifts in the distribution of philanthropic resources.

• In 1975, New York accounted for one-third of all U.S. foundation giving; by 2007, this share dropped to less than one-fifth. California more than doubled its share of giving to 13.5 percent over the same period.
• The top five states continue to provide close to half of all foundation giving. Still, their share has declined from 57.5 percent in 1975 to 46.7 percent in the latest year.
  View chart on the Distribution of Foundation Giving by State, 1975 and 2007 (PDF)

• Foundation endowments grew faster in the West and South than in the Midwest and Northeast regions between 1975 and 2007.
• In 2007, assets grew in all four major regions, with the West experiencing the largest gain. Overall, the assets of foundations in the region increased by over $22.5 billion (up 13.2 percent) to $192.7 billion. Within the Western region, Idaho, Montana, and Utah experienced the largest percentage growth in foundation assets.
• In 2007, the South ranked third in terms of its share of all U.S. foundation resources, behind the North and West.
  View chart on the Foundation Assets by Region, 1975 and 2007 (PDF)