In the years since his presidency, Bill Clinton has transformed himself into a philanthropic innovator. His Clinton Foundation does not give grants to outside organizations but instead works with a network of brilliant and influential people and organizations to bring change on crucial global issues.
So when Clinton speaks about philanthropy, people take note. Recently, he’s been speaking about the need to bring help to rural areas of America, like his hometown of Hope, Ark. As many nonprofits put their minds to tackling the sticky problems of urban life, large swathes of our rural landscapes are overlooked.
Clinton argues for helping rural communities not just by giving them a helping hand but also by offering a new mindset. Hope, he says, is as much in need as social services. He emphasizes that one can’t bully people into spreading the wealth to rural areas, but that we can provide new and inspiring ideas that might give the philanthropic community some food for thought. One idea: Rural and urban nonprofits could partner with each other to leverage their resources and impact. Another: Foundations could help rural communities invest in alternative energy sources to create jobs and secure their involvement in the coming green economy.
Will Clinton’s words bring hope to Hope? With the state of the economy clouding everyone’s mindset, let’s certainly hope so.
