A New Database Tracks Private Foundations’ Donations To Higher Education

July 4, 2026 - 00:56

A searchable online portal is now shedding light on the flow of private foundation money into American colleges and universities. The tool, known as SOURCE, which stands for Searchable Open University Records of Charitable Expenditures, compiles detailed data on grants awarded to higher education institutions.

For years, tracking exactly which foundations fund which schools, and for what specific purposes, has been a difficult task. While many foundations file public tax returns, the information is often buried in PDF documents or scattered across different databases. SOURCE aims to solve this by pulling that data into one central, easy-to-use platform. Users can search by foundation name, university, or even by the specific program or department receiving the money.

The database covers a wide range of giving, from large endowments for new buildings to smaller grants for research projects. Early analysis of the data shows some clear trends. A handful of elite universities continue to receive a large share of all foundation dollars, but the portal also reveals significant giving to public universities and community colleges. The creators of SOURCE hope the tool will increase transparency in philanthropic giving and help researchers, journalists, and the public better understand the financial relationships between private foundations and the academic world.