Rural Foundation Collaboration: “Houston we have a problem”

Abstract

Rural communities throughout the United States are alarmingly challenged by deteriorating landscapes, ravished economies, declining populations, and gentrifying populations in the face of unfair and disproportionately lower support from government and philanthropy compared to urban areas. Rural communities have many big city problems but small-town resources for addressing them. Institutional philanthropy may represent a significant new option for meaningfully addressing rural challenges. Though it appears foundations are largely absent from rural America and, when present, often struggle in developing strategies appropriate for rural contexts. Further, rural needs often require resources of multiple foundations, but many foundations are ineffective in collaborating with other funders. This study of rural practices involving grant making and collaboration between funders examined experiences and approaches employed by representatives of 54 foundations (national, regional, and local place-based). Participants from 31 states and the District of Columbia contributed valuable insights. Findings from this research offer important insights that, if properly addressed, could significantly improve efforts at rural philanthropy.