You may know RDI firsthand, from participating in one of our leadership programs such as Cultivando Communidad, or our partnership with the Ford Institute Leadership Program. Your business may have been helped by the services of our partners in the Connecting Oregon for Rural Entrepreneurship (CORE) program. You may have been inspired at our unique annual gathering, Regards to Rural, which draws hundreds of community leaders from throughout Oregon and the Northwest.
You may have seen your community benefit in visible ways from working with RDI. Through our facilitation of community visions and project plans, your community may now have a new library, athletic field, industrial park, cultural center, improved internet access or more small businesses. Your children may now be enjoying a safe new playground as a result of RDI’s assistance in your community.
Maybe your motivation is simply your love of rural communities. Perhaps you have roots in a rural place and you admire RDI’s work. Whatever your connection, we truly appreciate your interest in “giving back.” Your donation makes it possible for RDI to continue to assist other rural people like you or those you know.
Rural Development Initiatives, Inc. (RDI) is an Oregon based private, non-profit 501 (c) (3) established in 1991 to help rural communities in the Pacific Northwest create economic opportunity and shape their futures. In 2007 alone, RDI served community leaders from over 100 communities. Take a tour of our website to learn more about our people and programs.
With your support we can continue to be a trusted and innovative resource for rural communities as they face a wide range of issues and opportunities.
Over the last decade we have shifted from reliance on state funding to
a more diversified funding base. Using an entrepreneurial business model,
we assemble funding for mission driven programs through competitive grants,
social enterprises, fees for service and creative collaborations that at
the same time grow the capacity of those on whose behalf we work. We are
beginning to further diversify our funding through individual and major
donor campaigns. Such funding gives us the flexibility to be a dependable
and responsive partner for rural community revitalization.
Ways to Give
There are many ways to give to support
the work of Rural Development Initiatives (RDI).
Donate On-Line:
Make a secure on-line donation at http://www.rdiinc.org/donate.php
Mail a Donation:
You can fill out our Mail-in
Donation Form and
mail it with your check to:
Rural Development Initiatives
2620 River Road Suite 205
Eugene, OR 97404
The RDI Programs With The Greatest Need:
Put your dollars to work where they are most needed. By
making your donation to the “greatest need” you help RDI
over costs that our other funding sources may not such as our support
staff, phones, computers, and other costs that help support our programs.
Support The Agility Fund:
Help RDI move quickly to seize new opportunities, provide expanded
program services in new communities, and help reduce costs of program
services for rural communities most in need. The Agility Fund is RDI’s “research
and development” fund. When you check the box to direct your
donation to the Agility Fund, you fund innovation and service to new
communities. For example, we used Agility Funds to design the successful
Cultivando Comunidad Spanish-language leadership program.
Regards to Rural Conference and Scholarships:
Invest in rural, invest in learning! Your donation towards Regards
to Rural scholarships helps rural community members attend the greatest
rural learning opportunity of the year – the Regards to Rural Conference
(link to 2007 program)! Without scholarships many rural residents
could not afford to attend. You can make the difference in the life
of one person with your donation of $600, the cost of one full scholarship.
You can also make a donation to assist with the programs and planning for Regards to Rural. Your investment in our first-rate conference enables us to leverage other donors like corporations and philanthropic foundations.
The RDI Endowment:
Build RDI’s long term future! Just this year RDI’s board
has set aside $200,000 to seed our savings for the long term in the form
of an endowment. Your gift towards building our principal in the endowment
fund will grow over time. Your gift is an investment in the long term
financial health of RDI. Only the interest from that growth
will be used for RDI programs and can serve to buffer RDI from the changes
in individual, corporate, and foundation giving that result from the cyclic
ups and downs of the economy.
Host a House or Office Party:
Tell your friends and neighbors about RDI! House parties are a great
way to “friend raise” for RDI. You can host a house party
at your home or office or at a community center in your town. It can
be as simple as coffee and cookies or more elaborate. You choose what
works for you. You send the invites and host the party. We help
you with materials about RDI and we can provide a speaker. We can
also help you with ideas. Call Kim Leval, Fund Development Director,
at (541) 684-9077 if you would like to learn more!
Host a Special Event:
We work all around Oregon. You, our supporters and participants, know
your community the best. If you have an idea for hosting a special
event to raise friends or funds for RDI we would love to hear from you! Call
Kim Leval, Fund Development Director, at (541) 684-9077 to discuss your
ideas.
Volunteer:
Volunteering is a great way to learn more about RDI or to give back. We
need assistance with our Regards to Rural Conference, with our dinner and
auction coming up at Regards to Rural in spring 2009, with mailings in our
Eugene office, and a host of other projects. Contact Katie Carpenter,
Development Assistant, at (541) 684-9077 if you are available and she can
share our list of volunteer opportunities.
Donate Auction Items:
We are planning our first Fund Development dinner and live auction at
our sixth Regards to Rural conference in spring 2009. If you have
auction items that you would like to donate please call Katie Carpenter,
Development Assistant, at (541) 684-9077. Examples include: products,
services, vacation rentals, trip packages, gift baskets with themed items,
gift certificates for products, services, or dinners out.
Give Services:
As a non-profit we are always striving to save on services so that we
can put more of our dollars raised to programs. If you have a service
business like a public relations, printing, or graphic arts business and
can offer savings or pro bono work we would like to talk with you! Give
Kim Leval, Fund Development Director, a call at (541) 684-9077.
Give Discounts:
Our staff are often on the road providing training or other
services. If you have a restaurant, hotel or other business and
can offer discounts to RDI staff let us know. You can call Kim
Leval, Fund Development Director, at (541) 684-9077.
Planned Giving And Other Donor Services:
Rural Development Initiatives’ Fund Development Director is ready
to assist prospective and established donors in fulfilling their charitable
giving needs. Donor services include assistance in locating estate planning
counsel, gift planning, establishing charitable gift annuities, and providing
timely information about charitable gift options. Free and confidential
gift planning services are available through Rural Development Initiatives.
For information about charitable giving, please contact Kim Leval, Fund
Development Director at (541) 684-9077 or .
RDI is a nonprofit corporation under Section 501 c (3) of the federal tax
code. Your donation is fully tax deductible to the extent allowed
by law. Please consult your tax adviser about your personal situation.
Revenue generated through development provides a needed income stream
to pay for programs and services not fully funded by grants and other funding
sources. This "unrestricted" money allows RDI to move quickly
to meet new challenges and respond immediately to opportunities as they
arise.
Thank you for your interest and for giving to RDI!