Social Issues

The State of Nonprofits in Utah: A View of Charities from IRS Filings

Written by: Shawn Teigen

In 2025, the Utah Foundation showed that Utah had the highest Social Capital Index score in the nation. This was partially driven by factors related to “community life.” This high level of community life – such as how much Utahns give to charities – is highlighted in the latest report from the Utah Foundation on the state’s nonprofits. Nonprofits often fill gaps when the free market and governments fall short. A vast majority of Utah’s … Continued

Rethinking Rehabilitation: Improving Outcomes for Drug-Addicted Offenders in Utah

Written by: Sam Brucker

Drug Treatment Programs for criminal offenders can provide significant cost savings to the criminal justice system and reduce recidivism rates. Treatment programs have also been shown to reduce overdose deaths after release from prison. One recent federal study found a five-fold return to the public on investments in drug rehabilitation programs for offenders. However, treatment programs vary widely in intensity and approach. In Rethinking Rehabilitation, Utah Foundation explains efforts to address addiction within the context of the justice system … Continued

Getting to Tomorrow: Addressing Suicide in Utah and the Mountain States

Written by: Sam Brucker

Since the turn of the millennium, suicide has been on the rise nationally. However, suicide rates differ significantly from state to state. And from a regional perspective, some of the highest rates are in the Mountain States, a grouping that includes Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada and Wyoming. Of these states, all except Arizona were among the top 10 states for suicide mortality in 2016. Each suicide has significant ripple effects. A … Continued

United Way of Treasure Valley 2017 Community Assessment

Written by: Shawn Teigen

In 2016, the United Way of Treasure Valley retained Utah Foundation to perform a Community Assessment of the United Way’s three-county service area. Work was completed in 2017. The Community Assessment is seen as a foundation to achieve community goals. For the assessment, Utah Foundation analyzed community data as indicators of community success, barriers to reveal hindrances to community success, and opportunities as potential solutions to barriers. To inform the assessment, Utah Foundation held focus groups … Continued

Utah Priorities 2016, Issue #9: Homelessness and Poverty

Written by: Shawn Teigen

The ninth most important issue in Utah Foundation’s Utah Priorities Project is homelessness and poverty. Over half of the state (53% of respondents) gives this issue a high level of concern, rating it as a four or five on a five-point scale.1 SURVEY RESPONSES Political ideology tended to correspond with level of concern on this issue. Approximately 48% of conservatives rate homelessness and poverty of high concern compared to 75% of liberals. Income was another … Continued

Taking Care of Our Seniors: An Assessment of Utah’s Aging Services

Written by: Mallory Bateman

The oldest Baby Boomers turn seventy this year. Though Utah is known as a young state, older adults represent more than ten percent of the population, and their numbers are increasing rapidly. Though there have been initiatives in the past, there is currently no state plan to address the needs of the growing senior population. This report describes some of the most critical services that the state’s twelve Area Agencies on Aging offer to seniors, … Continued

Millennials and Boomers: Politics and Society (Part IV)

Written by: Mallory Bateman

PART IV: POLITICS AND SOCIETY (See Part I: Demographics, Part II: Finances and Workplace Preferences, and Part III: Housing) Increased voter turnout in the 2008 presidential election helped create movement around understanding younger voters, who in previous election cycles had been thought of as an inactive group. National research has painted Millennials as a socially-conscious generation who do not identify with the two major parties. These attributes are influenced by their goals and values in … Continued

United Way of Treasure Valley Community Assessment 2014

Written by: Shawn Teigen

In 2013 the United Way of Treasure Valley retained Utah Foundation to perform a Community Assessment of the United Way’s three-county service area. Work was completed in 2014. The Community Assessment is seen as a foundation to achieve community goals. For the assessment, Utah Foundation analyzed community data as indicators of community success, barriers to reveal hindrances to community success, and opportunities as potential solutions to barriers. To inform the assessment, Utah Foundation held focus … Continued

Utah Foundation Quality of Life Index: 2013 Edition Shows Concerns About Jobs, K-12 Education and Air Quality

Written by: Shawn Teigen

Produced in collaboration with Intermountain Healthcare, the Utah Foundation Quality of Life Index is updated every two years to track how Utahns perceive changes in quality of life and the reasons for those changes. The second biennial Utah Quality of Life Index stands at 78.2 out of a possible 100 points, up one point from 2011. Although Utah’s quality of life rating improved, several of the issues most important to Utahns – public schools, job … Continued

Utah Priorities 2012, Issue #9: Poverty

Written by: Stephen Hershey Kroes

In 2012, voters listed poverty as the 9th most important priority in the election year. This policy brief examines poverty rates over time, recessionary effects on poverty, and the poverty rates of subgroups in Utah. It also shows the impact that certain governmental measures have on mitigating poverty. Lastly, it examines how poverty is measured and alternative measures.