According to the [just released] Foundation Center’s Key Facts on Social Justice Grantmaking (2010 Edition), social justice-related funding by U.S. foundations climbed to nearly 15 percent of overall grant dollars in 2008. During most of the past decade, social justice giving had represented a smaller 11 to 12 percent of grant dollars awarded by foundations included in the Foundation Center’s annual grants sample.

Among other key findings:

• Economic development benefited from the largest share of social justice grant dollars in 2008
• The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation ranked as the top funder of social justice-related activities
• Close to half of social justice-related funding targeted international efforts