ERS: Foundation grants to rural America small in comparison with population
June 29, 2015 |05:47 PM
Private foundations grants to rural-based organizations totaled only 6 to 7 percent of the value of all foundation grants, the Agriculture Department’s Economic Research Service found in a study released today.
“Considering that the rural share of the U.S. population was 19 percent in 2010, all of these estimates suggest an urban focus of foundation grants,” ERS said.
The total value of the foundation grants in 2010 was estimated at $2.2 billion to $2.5 billion of a total of $45 billion in grants.
USDA’s rural development programs provided nearly $28 billion to rural American organizations in 2010, ERS noted. The study also found differences in the types of grants that went to rural versus urban organizations.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has urged foundations to take more of an interest in rural America.
“Considering that the rural share of the U.S. population was 19 percent in 2010, all of these estimates suggest an urban focus of foundation grants,” ERS said.
The total value of the foundation grants in 2010 was estimated at $2.2 billion to $2.5 billion of a total of $45 billion in grants.
USDA’s rural development programs provided nearly $28 billion to rural American organizations in 2010, ERS noted. The study also found differences in the types of grants that went to rural versus urban organizations.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has urged foundations to take more of an interest in rural America.
