Rural Philanthropy-Update on Foundation Giving to Rural Communities

Although the sentiment is not unanimous, many experts interviewed in this study note a raised
level of rural awareness, and more attention to rural issues in general, over the past 2-3 years.

The immediate antecedent of this awareness is the Conference in August, but others note the
work of other large foundations and advocacy groups to bring attention to rural America.

I still haven’t decided whether to go to Montana for the conference, but I think the attention
of Senator Baucus to the rural, to the philanthropic divide, promises to increase the attention
of the philanthropic world to rural needs. I anticipate good things.

There seems to be a whole lot of interest in making it increase. I mean if you [read] what I
read every day, you’ve got Ford and Kellogg holding major convenings.

You got what is
going to happen in Missoula in August, so I mean there is a lot of initial work I think to get
funding on the same page.

To: Center for Rural Strategies and Stand Up for Rural America
From: Anna Greenberg and David Walker

Full Paper: http://www.ruralstrategies.org/projects/philanthropy/RuralPhilanthropy2007UPD.pdf

(Thanks again to David Young at MSU for bringing this paper to our attention. Russ)

David M. Young, Professor
Community Resource Specialist
Extension Service
Montana State University
e-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 406-994-5552
Fax: 406-994-1756