Rural philanthropy even more important in facing long-term consequences of pandemic

Health Affairs’ blog highlights how philanthropy has worked to support rural communities during the pandemic. As the public health crisis continues, and nonprofit and government resources continue to shrink, rural funders can play an important role in filling the gaps. As authors note, this role is not relevant for the immediate response, but also in the longer-term recovery needs facing rural areas. Several examples are provided, including the Episcopal Health Foundation in east Texas that began by funding grantees’ telehealth programs at the start of the pandemic. As COVID-19 continued, the Foundation solicited community input about other needs including addressing social isolation and supporting small nonprofits with technical assistance. #covid-19 #rural