Date of Award
8-2026
Document Type
Capstone
Degree Name
Master of Nonprofit Studies
First Advisor
Dr. Abbi Haggerty
Abstract
Around sixty-six million Americans live in rural communities; however, the research on what accessibility barriers exist for rural residents accessing nonprofit services is limited. Rural communities often face persistent barriers to accessing essential services, including transportation challenges, geographic isolation, and financial hardship. Nonprofit organizations employ strategies to respond to these barriers; however, organizational capacity constraints make it difficult for nonprofits to alter their service delivery strategies. This study uses semi-structured interviews with nonprofit leaders to identify what nonprofit accessibility barriers can currently be seen in rural Virginian communities. Findings also explore how nonprofits navigate these barriers and what they do to alter their service delivery for clients. The objective of this study is to identify the barriers that exist and what nonprofit organizations are doing to address those barriers, so that stakeholders can take proper steps towards addressing accessibility concerns for rural community members.
Recommended Citation
Knight, Elizabeth, "Barriers to Access: Examining Nonprofit Service Delivery in Rural Communities" (2026). School of Professional and Continuing Studies Nonprofit Studies Capstone Projects. 39.
https://scholarship.richmond.edu/spcs-nonprofitstudies-capstones/39
