The purpose of this study is to improve the understanding both of the capacity of rural residents to make charitable gifts and of the differences in charitable giving between rural and urban households. Specifically, the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University conducted this study to examine patterns of charitable giving between rural and urban households using the 2005 Center on Philanthropy Panel Study (COPPS), a nationally representative sample of more than 8,000 households, and a combined dataset drawn from studies about household giving in different parts of the United States.This research was made possible by an Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) research grant. The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University conducted the analysis and wrote the report. The results of this study provide a clearer picture of the status of rural philanthropy and the differences in charitable giving between rural and urban inhabitants. Data sources: Sponsored regional studies and the Center on Philanthropy Panel Study. We thank the funders of all of these surveys
