Charitable giving through The Dayton Foundation continues to be strong, despite current economic uncertainty. During the recently concluded fiscal year, The Dayton Foundation and its donors supported charitable organizations and their causes with more than $41 million in grants and programs. Over the last 10 years alone, more than $365 million in grants and programs has been awarded from Foundation funds to help thousands of charities help others in the community and beyond.

“The collective impact that these dollars have had on the Greater Dayton region is substantial. This is remarkable generosity particularly from a community our size. And giving continues to be good, even in these difficult economic times,” said Dayton Foundation President Michael M. Parks.

Grantmaking by Foundation donors’ funds since the start of the new fiscal year (July 1) is keeping pace with last year, Parks said, and amounts to more than $16.7 million over the past five months, supporting hundreds of worthy community efforts.

Foundation scholarship funds also continue strong, with $1.3 million in scholarships awarded last fiscal year by 124 Dayton Foundation scholarship funds.

In the last 10 years, nearly 5,500 students have received $6.8 million in scholarships through The Dayton Foundation.

During the last fiscal year The Dayton Foundation added 257 new funds,including 80 new current endowment funds, 24 deferred funds and 153 new funds to the Foundation’s Charitable Checking Account ServiceSM. Additionally, $3.6 million in new planned and deferred (legacy) gifts were committed by donors to the Foundation this past year, for a total of more than $219 million in committed legacy gifts as of June 30, 2008.

Since 1921 The Dayton Foundation has been helping people help others in the Dayton community and beyond. The Dayton Foundation helps donors find the best and most tax-wise ways to achieve their charitable objectives, invests and manages donors’ charitable funds, and provides grants and leadership to grow philanthropy and help meet present and future community needs. More information about The Dayton Foundation and its services is available at www.daytonfoundation.org.