The Heartland Fund
Our country is stronger when we invest in rural people and organizations bridging across racial, economic, and geographic differences to drive solutions. The Heartland Fund is building power toward a thriving democracy, healthy climate, and shared prosperity across diverse communities in rural areas and small cities.
Learn More
Building a stronger democracy and shared prosperity in rural America
Heartland Fund supports and connects rural leaders working to transform their lives and communities. We invest in year-round civic engagement, issue advocacy, community organizing infrastructure, and rural leadership in statewide and national coalitions. In addition to grantmaking, Heartland Fund also supports rural leaders and organizations through convening, research, and communications.
Our Network
Heartland Fund invests in over 150 groups to work alongside hundreds of thousands of people in rural areas, small towns, and small cities to improve their lives and communities.
Communications
Heartland Fund drives effective communications by establishing local trusted messengers, reaching people through local press, and showing the connection between national talking points and local impacts.
Policies
We work to advance policies that improve the lives of rural people and ensure democracy works for us all. The Heartland Fund network has fueled a historic surge of rural progress, profoundly affecting numerous recent policy successes.
Featured Report
Rural Policy Action Report
Featuring priority legislation and executive action that supports working families and strengthens rural communities. The report also highlights numerous policy successes and the ongoing challenges people in rural communities face.
Support Rural Progress
Invest in the potential of our small towns and rural communities.
Heartland Fund Programs
We have seen enormous success in the fight for change in rural communities. The Heartland network is poised to make an even greater difference this year. Supercharged by the IRA, CHIPS, and Infrastructure funding, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in rural-led solutions for economic prosperity, climate, and quality of life.
Rural Climate Partnership
Build hometown prosperity through a rural-led, place-based and benefits-forward approach
Learn more
Resource Rural
Federal funding is flowing at unprecedented levels and we have a generational opportunity to make sure it lands where it’s most needed
Learn moreTools & Resources
Heartland Fund provides tools and original research to benefit rural communities
Rural Map and Dashboard
Rural classifications to the country’s census tracts, counties, congressional districts, and states.
Read more
Rural Voter Polling
The polls explore rural attitudes and point toward ways to engage rural communities.
Read more
The Latest
News from the Heartland Fund
New Rural Poll Results
An overwhelming 77% of rural likely voters oppose abortion bans.
Early Investment Spurs Civic Engagement
These rural leaders engage their communities all year, every year.
Analyzing the Farm Bill
See how the House and Senate proposals meet the priorities of rural communities.
2023 Impact Report
The Heartland Fund Impact Report includes lessons from 2023, priorities for 2024, financials, and grantee spotlights.