Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Vincent H. Smith.Cremer, Mary Ellen2013-06-252013-06-251991https://scholarworks.montana.edu/handle/1/1124The purpose of this thesis is to identify factors influencing community support for rural hospitals. Hospitals in rural areas are liable to experience unfavorable financial situations in the near future. Data from a specific fund drive were utilized to develop a model of voluntary giving that may be helpful in predicting the success or failure of other similar drives for the purpose of providing support to these hospitals. Results indicate that voluntary giving is consistent with economic utility maximization theory.enSweet Grass Health Care FoundationRural hospitalsHospital and communityGiftsUtility theoryThesisCopyright 1991 by Mary Ellen Cremer