Rural
Funders Network
About the Rural Funders Network
Local First Arizona, the state’s federally designated Rural Development Council, formed the Rural Funders Network in 2023 to bring together funder resources, expertise and perspectives from organizations that focus on rural and tribal communities. Together, the network shares information and collaborates to address the unique funding needs and opportunities of rural Arizona and tribal nations. Through integrated planning and open dialogue, the goal is to support and accelerate systems-level change.
Consisting of corporate foundations, family foundations and government agencies, the Rural Funders Network meets quarterly to:
explore ideas and ways to innovate
deepen connections between the public and private sectors and individual organizations
earn and share practical philanthropic experience
Participating funders also make regular visits as a group to different rural and tribal sites. These visits offer funders the opportunity to connect with organizations that meet their funding criteria and to see best practices that could be replicated in other communities with the right strategies and investments. Additionally, these hands-on experiences help funders evaluate where communities and specific organizations are on their funding journey and how a funders’ giving programs and resources might best benefit an area.
At its core, the Rural Funders Network seeks to increase funders’ collective impact in rural and tribal communities in Arizona.
Interested in Joining the Network?
Interested funders whose social investments include a significant focus on rural Arizona and tribal communities can complete this form to explore participating in the network. For any questions about the network, please contact azrdc@localfirstaz.com.