Rural Urban Bridging for Impact: Progress Update

Over the past year, MCF convened a group of 19 MCF members as a steering committee to launch the Rural Urban Bridging for Impact initiative. The steering committee recently expanded into a full MCF member network – allowing inclusion of all MCF members in this important work.

Read the progress report to learn more about the history of RUBI and the work going forward. And sign up to get notifications of ongoing work through the RUBI listserv.

RUBI Focus Areas

These four focus areas, below, will be carried forward in various ways. Initial plans include the following ideas:

1. Engaging in ongoing learning for philanthropy: MCF will host a RUBI network, open to all MCF members, which will guide the planning and hosting of various MCF member briefings and workshops.

2. Finding and funding what works: In addition to offering sessions for learning from external guests, the RUBI network will provide a space for peer sharing/learning, where members can explore what’s working in community.

3. Developing a “Blueprint for Action”: MCF has contracted with Seiche Consulting to review all steering committee minutes and videos in order to develop a Blueprint for Action. The Blueprint will be housed on a mini website with resource materials that grantmakers can pick up and implement in areas of storytelling (narrative change), relationship building (bridging and belonging), building new skillsets (civic leadership), and shifting structures (systems change). The Blueprint will serve as a Call to Action for grantmakers to engage in the work of RUBI within their organizations and communities.

4. Narrative change/storytelling: The blueprint referenced above will share examples of what has worked in similar settings to change narratives through stories that shatter preconceived understandings of urban and rural geographies.

Take Action

• Find out more about the work of RUBI by connecting with Dave Anderson, danderson@mcf.org.

• Read the RUBI progress report from August 2024.

• Sign up to get notifications of ongoing work through the RUBI listserv.