Building Dialogue From Within: Meeting the Needs of Rural America
posted on: Thursday, August 02, 2007
The gap in foundation giving to urban areas compared to rural ones is staggering. In 2001 and 2002, for example, “only 184 foundations made grants that the Foundation Center categorized as ‘rural development’ grants.” And yet, “a larger percentage of children live in poverty in rural America than in urban America,” reports NCRP’s latest report, Rural Philanthropy: Building Dialogue From Within.
Understanding that disparity, however, is difficult. After all, grantmaking behavior, nonprofit operations and the spatial economy interact in complex ways, especially in rural parts of the country.
Rural Philanthropy tackles those complexities and recommends ways to boost charitable giving to rural America. It focuses primarily on foundations’ perceptions of rural areas and nonprofits, rural nonprofits’ access to grantmakers, and population constraints on such areas.
More discussion points will be provided during the next couple of weeks. NCRP invites readers to join in the dialogue on issues regarding rural philanthropy.
Download the report for free.
Labels: Rural Philanthropy
Understanding that disparity, however, is difficult. After all, grantmaking behavior, nonprofit operations and the spatial economy interact in complex ways, especially in rural parts of the country.
Rural Philanthropy tackles those complexities and recommends ways to boost charitable giving to rural America. It focuses primarily on foundations’ perceptions of rural areas and nonprofits, rural nonprofits’ access to grantmakers, and population constraints on such areas.
More discussion points will be provided during the next couple of weeks. NCRP invites readers to join in the dialogue on issues regarding rural philanthropy.
Download the report for free.
Labels: Rural Philanthropy
posted by NCRP at
10:47 AM
1 Comments:
Thank you for your studies & articles on rural philanthropy. As a non-profit theatre company in a small rural community (& economically-disadvantaged area), we face this problem continuously. We have served our area, & drawn statewide & out-of-state attendees, for twelve years, presenting over 40 original productions incorporating local & New Mexican multi-cultural & multi-ethnic history, legend, & current issues. We've had many "pats on the back" for achievement from the media & from state & local government, Yet we are barely "hanging on."
Contributions, both cash & inkind, are amazingly generous, considering our economic environs. We do receive some grants, but there are very few for which we can apply in our area. Therefore, our income remains low, which precludes payment to staff, etc., (as your article noted), knocking us out of qualifications to apply to certain funders.
So, we struggle on, constantly in danger of closing down, & unable to reach anything like full potential artistically, though - with the talent & dedication of those involved - we have continued to strive & improve. However, at this point - under-funded & under (or not at all) paid, & over-worked, energies are flagging.
We serve a "local" area greater than that of New England (plus as noted earlier, bringing much-needed tourism dollars to our area); when we close, we will be missed. But we cannot keep driving on empty, & "fill-ups" are few & far between here.
Again, thank you for pointing out a situation that is, for the most part, hidden from grantors, who supposedly value the rural legacy, diverse cultures, & environment - but do not support it.
By
Donna Todd, Director of The London Frontier Theatre Company, at 3:31 PM
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