Low unemployment, strong stock market performances, and increases in corporate profits made 2018 a stellar year for grant-making foundations and charitable trusts. The sector is primarily fueled by private contributions from individuals and corporations, investment returns, and capital asset gains, so when economic conditions are favorable, grant-makers do well, too. And when grant-makers do well, it benefits the not-for-profit organizations that rely on donations, grants, and endowments to support their programming efforts.