Data from Exponent Philanthropy’s 2026 Foundation Operations and Management Report, featured in The Hows & Whys of Multiyear General Operating Support, show that multiyear GOS is still used by a minority of foundations, but in intentional, high-impact ways.
In the most recent fiscal year, 32% of foundations made multiyear GOS grants. These awards were larger and longer than single-year grants, averaging nearly $68,000 over three years and representing close to 30% of total grant budgets. While most foundations continue to rely on single-year GOS, multiyear funding is often reserved for trusted partners where funders want to make deeper, longer-term investments. Foundations that prioritize racial equity were also more likely to offer multiyear GOS, reinforcing the link between equity-centered values and flexible, trust-based funding.
For step-by-step guidance on deciding when multiyear GOS makes sense, and how to implement it in a lean foundation, explore The Hows & Whys of Multiyear General Operating Support.
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