Philanthropy has made significant strides over the last decade to increase support for people in U.S. territories. But all too often people in U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands continue to fall through the cracks, leading to astonishing disparities in support from private foundations and other funders. Philanthropy must do more to close the gap on investment and engagement in U.S. territories.

Over the past year, Right to Democracy has been conducting research and analysis on the gaps that exist between U.S.-based philanthropy in these  territories and throughout the rest of the United States. The following is based on data from the Foundation Directory Online, the U.S. Census, and national figures compiled by Philanthropy Roundtable. This research is just a start and is incomplete – more must be done to improve the quality and quantity of data related to philanthropic engagement in U.S. territories.

In 2021, U.S-based private foundations contributed $103 billion throughout the United States, while contributing approximately $60 million specifically to U.S. territories. On a per capita basis – adjusting for population size – this means that people in the territories receive just a nickel on the dollar from foundations compared to the U.S. average. The gap is even worse in Pacific territories, where people receive less than a penny on the dollar per person.

Put another way, if per capita private foundation support for people in U.S. territories was the same as the national average, the 2021 amount would be over $1 billion, not merely $60 million. 

While these numbers are shocking, this is actually an improvement from 2012, when the overall giving from U.S.-based philanthropy to U.S. territories was just $5.3 million.  So there has been a ten-fold plus increase from 2012-2021. But even if there were to be another ten-fold increase over the next decade, people in U.S. territories would still be receiving just fifty cents on the dollar per person.

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There is much room for improvement. An initial step would be for leaders in philanthropy to conduct a rigorous audit and analysis of philanthropic engagement in U.S. territories. Philanthropy should also commit to taking action to close this gap, with a particular focus on Pacific territories where the gap is most stark. 

As Right to Democracy works to build an ecosystem focused on advancing democracy, equity, and self-determination in U.S. territories, we will continue working with nonprofit leaders across the territories and philanthropic leaders nationally to do better. 

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