Rural communities get a disproportionally small share of foundation grants

U.S. foundations are an important source of funding for public needs, providing more than $45 billion in grants in 2010. On average, grants to rural-based organizations accounted for 5.5 percent of the real value of domestic grants by large foundations during 2005-10. However, a share of foundation grants to urban-based organizations may also have benefited rural people, if the grant recipient works in rural areas or serves broader public purposes that benefit both rural and urban people.