LOGAN — A researcher at Utah State University has recently been selected as part of a new national effort to better understand and support nonprofits in rural communities.
Dr. Jayme Walters, an associate professor in the Department of Social Work and executive director of the Transforming Communities Institute, has been named one of the inaugural 2026 Rural Philanthropy Institute Research Fellows.
The fellowship, launched by the Rural Philanthropy Institute, focuses on addressing disparities in funding and support for rural nonprofits. While about 20% of the U.S. population lives in rural areas, only a small fraction of philanthropic funding reaches those communities, according to the institute.
Walters, who brings nearly two decades of experience in nonprofit and community practice, will focus her research on strengthening the capacity of rural nonprofits and understanding how perceptions of rural communities influence funding decisions.
Her project, titled “Strengthening Knowledge about Rural Nonprofit Capacity & Philanthropy,” will examine how technology impacts fundraising efforts in rural areas and explore how factors such as perceived community impact, racism, and classism may shape donor behavior.
The work has direct relevance for communities across Cache Valley and Northern Utah, where many nonprofit organizations operate in smaller, rural or semi-rural settings and face similar funding and capacity challenges.
Walters also serves as executive director of the Transforming Communities Institute at USU, where her work focuses on helping communities address pressing social issues and build sustainable systems of support.
The fellowship program aims to expand research on rural philanthropy and provide practical insights that nonprofit leaders and policymakers can use to strengthen services in underserved areas.
Fellows will begin their research in spring 2026, with findings to be shared through a virtual presentation later in the year.