Description

How does rural grantmaking align with commitments to equitable grantmaking, work to close opportunity gaps, and/or advancing upward economic mobility?

What strategies can funders (who may be based in urban areas) use to advance community-driven solutions that meet local needs in rural communities?

Midwest Partnership states – Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, and Ohio – have more community members living in rural communities than the national average (26% vs. 20%). These 9 million people living in rural communities generally experience 1-3% higher rates of poverty and fewer opportunities for upward economic mobility. Despite this demonstrated need, nationally, we see  less than 7% of philanthropic spending in rural communities (when Missouri dug deeper, the finding was a shocking less than 1%). Through convening, funding, and advocacy, grantmakers have an opportunity to strengthen rural ecosystems by supporting alignment of local efforts and resources, championing scalable pilot programs, and promoting an asset-based approach.

This Midwest Partnership webinar, hosted by Philanthropy Missouri and featuring guest speakers from the Education Design Lab, will explore:

1. How rural grantmaking fits into equitable grantmaking work for Midwest funders;
2. Strategies to support collaborative solutions to improve economic mobility in rural communities (including how this may differ from effective approaches in more urban communities); 
3. Specific field examples about strengthening rural ecosystems through innovative, community-designed education-to-workforce solutions; and
4. Additional resources to support funders in this space, like the RuralTogether community.

Audience & Registration

Philanthropy Missouri is pleased to be hosting this webinar. It is designed will ALL funders in mind -- you do not need to be a “rural funder” to join us. Any PhilMO Member or Missouri funder may register. 

Please register via the new PhilMO website. PhilMO Members may participate for free. If this is your first interaction with the new website, choose “Create New Account” when registering. 

Non-Member Missouri grantmakers may participate with a contribution of $75. Non-Members should choose "Register as a Guest" to register and remit payment. 

If you encounter any challenges registering for this program or otherwise navigating the new website, help is available by contacting info@philmo.org.

Guest speakerS

Leslie Daugherty, EdD

Senior Director, Design Programs

Education Design Lab

Dr. Leslie Daugherty is the Lab’s Senior Director of Design Programs. She came to the Lab after 15 years working in traditional higher education and began her career as an admissions counselor where she served mostly rural student populations. In her current role, she leads the Lab's Rural Practice area, which is focused on increasing the capacity of rural colleges as they become economic growth engines within their communities.. Find her full bio here.

Matt Newlin, EdD

Senior Education Designer, Rural Initiatives

Education Design Lab

Dr. Newlin is the Senior Education Designer, Rural Initiatives, at Education Design Lab where he helps lead the Rural College Design & Data Academy. Dr. Newlin has spent over 18 years in higher education, with the last six years focused directly on rural learners and communities. Prior to joining the Lab, he served as the inaugural Director of Rural Initiatives at College Advising Corps where he developed state-specific and national trainings for rural-serving advisors. He is also the creator and host of the Rural College Student Experience podcast.  Find his full bio here.

About the Lab

The Education Design Lab (the Lab) is a national nonprofit that co-designs, prototypes, and tests education-to-workforce models through a human-centered design process focused on understanding learners’ experiences, addressing equity gaps in higher education, and connecting learners to economic mobility. Learn more: eddesignlab.org. Among significant rural work, the Lab convenes more than 860 rural funders and partners through their RuralTogether community. 

About Ascendium Education Group

A mission-driven nonprofit, Ascendium Education Group was founded in 1967 as Wisconsin’s federal student loan guarantor. Through the years, their footprint has expanded to the entire U.S., and they have grown into a leading postsecondary education and workforce training philanthropy, the nation’s largest federal student loan guarantor, a student and employee success solutions provider, and an education impact investor. The net proceeds from their services and investments fund grantmaking: more than $100 million annually in grants to champion opportunity for everyone. Learn more here.

What is the Midwest Partnership?

The Midwest Partnership is a collaboration between the Council of Michigan Foundations, Indiana Philanthropy Alliance, Philanthropy Missouri, and Philanthropy Ohio. 

The Midwest Partnership publishes an annual Midwest Grantmaker Salary Report and hosts joint programs, including monthly webinars connecting funders across the four states. Webinars are typically designed for community foundations, corporate foundations and giving programs, and/or family foundations. Occasionally, a program -- like this one! -- will be relevant to all foundation types. Regardless of focus, all foundation types may register for any program. 

Participation in webinars and access to the annual Salary Report is free for Member organizations. Non-Members may not access the report but may register for most webinars by contributing a $75 fee.