Rural Initiative Grant Program

The Rural Initiative Grant Program by the Laura Jane Musser Fund aims to foster collaboration among rural communities in areas like economic development and education. Emphasizing community involvement, it encourages diverse participation and measurable outcomes within 18 months. Grants of up to $25,000 for implementation or $5,000 for planning are available, targeting nonprofit organizations and local governments in select states. This initiative seeks to empower communities to achieve positive change through active engagement and support.

The Laura Jane Musser Fund wants to encourage collaborative and participatory efforts among citizens in rural communities that will help to strengthen their towns and regions in a number of civic areas including, but not limited to, economic development, business preservation, arts and humanities, public space improvements, and education.
Priority is placed on projects that:
Bring together a broad range of community members and institutionsProvide the opportunity for diverse community members to work togetherContain measurable short term outcomes within the first 12 to 18 monthsInclude community members actively in all phases of the process Work toward an outcome of positive change within their community
Projects must demonstrate:
Support from a diverse cross-section of community members and institutionsMatching financial and/or in-kind support from the local communitySignificant volunteer participationReasonable plans to complete the project within 18 months or less
Funds will be available for:
Planning (up to $5,000) - These funds may support costs like: consultant or staff time, meeting costs, mailings, secretarial support, refreshments, local travel, childcare, etc. Note - this stage is optional and not a required phase prior to applying for or receiving an implementation grant. If an organization receives a planning grant from the Musser Fund, this in no way implies a commitment on the part of the Musser Fund to provide the organization with any subsequent implementation grant. But organizations that receive a planning grant may apply for subsequent implementation support after their planning activities are completed.      Implementation (Up to $25,000) - These funds are available to implement community based rural projects that originate in, have been planned by, and involve diverse people from the local community. Capital campaigns will not be supported. The projects should result in a tangible outcome within at least the first 18 months.Projects will be eligible for either planning or implementation funds during any one grant period.
What the Program will Cover:

• New programs or projects within their first three yearsA planning, and/or implementation phase

Eligibility

Who can apply: Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizationsLocal units of Government ONLY programs in Colorado, Hawaii, Minnesota, Wyoming, and limited counties in North Carolina may apply.Eligible counties in North Carolina are located in the Mountains Region: Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Clay, Cherokee, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey counties.

Ineligibility

What will not be funded: Capital campaigns and large capital expenses