April 21, 2025
Philanthropic funders and leaders convened to explore issues facing rural Missouri
Under the banner of “Stronger Together,” the Community Foundation of the Ozarks and Philanthropy Missouri cohosted the third-annual Rural Philanthropy Summit on April 11 at The Lodge of Four Seasons in Lake Ozark. The statewide conference, sponsored by the Patterson Family Foundation, brought together more than 130 funders, CFO affiliate foundation leaders and rural partners to learn how philanthropy can address current challenges in rural communities and share ideas from successful initiatives.
In her keynote presentation, Erin Borla, executive director of the Roundhouse Foundation, encouraged attendees to find opportunities for collaboration, be intentional in their storytelling and uplift the stories of nonprofits they support.
“Someone said to me that the shortest distance between two people is a story. Stories help us become our full selves, as philanthropists and as people,” said Borla, who hosts the “Funding Rural” podcast as part of the National Center for Family Philanthropy Fellows Program. She emphasized that philanthropists have more than money to offer. “(Nonprofits) need connections. They need collaborations and access to folks who have done similar work to build a coalition.”
“Stories help us become our full selves, as philanthropists and as people” — Erin Borla of the Roundhouse Foundation imparts the value of storytelling to the nonprofit sector.
During the breakout sessions, attendees learned how philanthropy can impact a range of needs in rural communities, including:
- Advancing economic prosperity
- Understanding fundraising challenges for nonprofits
- Building teacher pipelines to rural schools
- Helping communities and organizations access public funds
- Partnering with community colleges for innovation
- Improving community health and revitalizing journalism
- Addressing transportation challenges
The afternoon featured an update on Philanthropy Missouri’s Rural Funder Network and an idea exchange through a variety of “Table Topics.” The conference concluded with a “Stronger Together” panel discussion on collaborative efforts to address childhood literacy in Rolla and Phelps County, child care in Cass County, and a regional approach to cancer treatment in Kirksville.
“The 2025 Rural Philanthropy Summit was a powerful reflection of the resilience and innovation that define Missouri’s rural communities,” said Michelle Miller, president and CEO of Philanthropy Missouri. “This year’s theme, ‘Stronger Together,’ captured the heart of our work — emphasizing that meaningful progress happens when funders and community leaders come together with shared purpose. By making space for connection and learning annually, the Summit has quickly become a launching point for strategic thinking and partnerships that advance more equitable investment in rural communities and build a thriving Missouri for all."
