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This file, “Covering Rural Territory,” is a framework for community foundations looking to improve their service to rural areas. It was developed by the Rural Development Philanthropy Learning Network (RDPLN) of the Aspen Institute’s Community Strategies Group in October 2004. The framework is organized into two main sections:
- Rural Service Structures and Characteristics: This section details six prevalent rural service structures: Consolidated Service, Area Fund, Federation, Service Bureau, Incubator, and Partnership. For each structure, it compares key characteristics such as governance, management, staffing, endowment building, investment policies, program activities, grantmaking, and cost/benefit comparisons. It also outlines the overall pros and cons of each model.
- Rural Service Case Stories: This section provides brief examples of community foundations that exemplify each of the six structures, including their mission, service area, structure highlights, operations, governance, and lessons learned.
The document emphasizes that this framework is a tool for discussion and strategic planning, not an exhaustive guide. It also defines key terms to standardize language within the field. The framework was developed based on years of experience and feedback from community foundation leaders involved in rural development philanthropy. The authors encourage users to provide feedback for future revisions.
