Opinion: White House Applies Heavy Hand to Rural Philanthropy

A Wall Street Journal column contends the Obama administration wants to effectively “nationalize” rural giving by guiding nonprofit groups into select areas.

David J. Sanders, a columnist for Stephens Media, in Little Rock, Ark., said White House efforts dominated the agenda at the recent Council of Foundations conference on rural philanthropy in the Arkansas capital. Sessions included instruction on how to tap federal stimulus funds to promote sustainable energy, broadband Internet access, and other priorities for the administration.

“The government’s rural strategy seems to be based on the idea that rural America can be bought or, at least, bribed,” Mr. Sanders writes.