Rural Partners

What Rural Partners does

Rural Partners is a not-for-profit membership corporation founded in 1989 and headquartered in Chatham, Illinois. The organization operates as a member-driven forum that links individuals, businesses, organizations, and communities with public and private resources to support community and economic development across rural Illinois. It holds the federally designated position of Illinois Rural Development Council through a Memorandum of Understanding between Illinois Governor Edgar and the National Rural Development Partnership of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, granting direct input into national rural policy, procedures, and regulations. Rural Partners also serves on the Governor's Rural Affairs Council and participates in the Partners for Rural America national coalition, which briefs the White House on rural issues.

The organization's core offerings are four membership tiers (Corporate at $1,000/yr, Regional at $500/yr, Local Government/Business at $200/yr, and Individual at $50/yr), a weekly newsletter and archive, annual spring and fall conferences (including the Rural Community Economic Development Conference co-hosted with the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs at Western Illinois University), the Local Government Webinar Series delivered with University of Illinois Extension, the Community Development Resource Program, a periodic Funding Initiative, and a Rural Resources Directory. Rural Partners does not develop proprietary technology; its technical footprint is limited to web-based platforms for newsletter distribution, webinar hosting, and member communications.

The business model is subscription/dues-based, supplemented by conference sponsorships, donations (PayPal), and periodic grant-funded initiatives (e.g., a $15,000 collaborative-projects funding pool in 2014). Members span local governments, regional organizations, private businesses, federal/state agencies, and individuals — including named members such as SIU School of Medicine, Illinois Farm Bureau, Ameren Illinois, Shawnee Communications, First Neighbor Bank, USDA Rural Development, Illinois Housing Development Authority, and Hillsboro Area Hospital. The organization has 11–50 employees and a single Illinois office, and has received Governor Pritzker proclamations in 2019, 2020, and 2024.

Name

Rural Partners

Legal name

Rural Partners

Website

https://ruralpartners.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Rural Partners is a 1989-founded Illinois non-profit membership organization that convenes rural communities, businesses, governments, and agencies to support rural Illinois community and economic development, operating a federally designated Rural Development Council role.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rural Community Development Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Interest-Based Communities & Forums (BPAMABAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

Keywords

• Rural community development
• Economic development consulting
• Membership nonprofit services
• Rural policy advocacy
• Community resource networking

Headquarters

HQ city

Chatham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Rural Partners generates revenue through tiered annual membership fees at four levels: Corporate ($1,000/year), Regional ($500/year), Local Government/Business ($200/year), and Individual ($50/year). Membership benefits include newsletter access, website listing, annual conference recognition, and networking opportunities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Rural Partners operates a member-driven forum that links individuals, businesses, organizations, and communities across rural Illinois with public and private resources. The organization sells tiered memberships (Corporate $1,000, Regional $500, Local Government/Business $200, Individual $50 annually) and delivers a weekly newsletter, annual conferences, a Local Government Webinar Series, a Community Development Resource Program, a Funding Initiative, and a Rural Resources Directory to support rural community and economic development.

Product overview

Rural Partners is a member-driven non-profit organization (not a software company) offering a portfolio of membership-based programs and services focused on rural Illinois community and economic development. The core offerings include four membership tiers (Corporate at $1,000, Regional at $500, Local Government/Business at $200, and Individual at $50), a weekly newsletter and archive, the Local Government Webinar Series in partnership with University of Illinois Extension, the Community Development Resource Program, and an annual Funding Initiative. Additional services include a Rural Resources Directory, annual conferences, and the Ask Rural Partners inquiry service. These offerings work together to connect rural communities with resources, facilitate networking, and support economic development initiatives across Illinois.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Corporate Membership Annual membership tier at $1,000 per year providing Annual Membership, Newsletter, Website logo and weblink, and Annual Conference recognition. Targeted at businesses and organizations supporting rural Illinois development.
• Regional Membership Regional organization membership at $500 per year providing Annual Membership, Newsletter, and Website listing. Designed for regional councils and multi-community organizations.
• Local Government/Business Membership Local government and business membership at $200 per year providing Annual Membership, Newsletter, and Website listing. Built for municipalities, counties, and small businesses in rural Illinois.
• Individual Membership Individual membership at $50 per year providing Annual Membership and Newsletter access. Designed for rural community leaders, educators, healthcare providers, and concerned citizens.
• Weekly Newsletter Weekly email newsletter containing articles about funding opportunities, resources, programs, conferences, success stories, and announcements of current grants for rural Illinois members and stakeholders.
• Local Government Webinar Series Educational webinar series offered in partnership with University of Illinois Extension, providing information on current programs, case studies, and rural issues including impacts of Dollar General stores on rural Illinois, telehealth, government programs, and changing rural communities.
• Community Development Resource Program Program matching community development priorities with resources through collaboration with member organizations, addressing leadership development, economic vitality, quality of life, and homeland security goals for rural Illinois communities.
• Funding Initiative Funding assistance program supporting collaborative projects for rural Illinois communities. In 2014, $15,000 was available for projects supporting rural development.
• Annual Conferences Annual spring and fall conferences providing access to innovative rural development strategies and networking opportunities, including the Rural Community Economic Development Conference hosted with IIRA at Western Illinois University.

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Governor's Rural Affairs Council (GRAC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1989Rural Partners serves on the Governor's Rural Affairs Council, collaborating on state rural development initiatives and funding opportunities. This partnership provides a voice for rural communities in state policy discussions.
• USDA Rural DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency partner providing rural development funding opportunities and programs. Rural Partners Board includes members from USDA and the relationship facilitates connections for rural communities accessing federal resources.
• Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs (IIRA) at Western Illinois UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership with IIRA to convene the annual Rural Community Economic Development Conference and conduct research on rural issues. IIRA provides research resources and Rural Partners provides networking and advocacy.
• Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner in rural development initiatives. Rural Partners maintains collaborative relationships and participates in DCEO advisory boards including the Small Business Development Center's Advisory Board.
• University of Illinois ExtensioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with University of Illinois Extension's Local Government Education program to deliver the Local Government Webinar Series. Rural Partners serves on the Extension Partners Board.
• Partners for Rural America (PRA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational coalition of state rural development councils. Rural Partners participates in Network State Briefings with the White House and provides leadership for PRA, giving Illinois a voice in national rural policy.
• National Rural Development Partnership (NRDP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal-state partnership that designates Rural Partners as the Illinois Rural Development Council through a Memorandum of Understanding, enabling direct input into national rural development policy.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Governor's Rural Affairs Council (GRAC) - Illinois: State-level advisory council on rural policy where Rural Partners holds a board seat. Closely overlapping mission in Illinois rural development, but acts as a government body rather than membership non-profit.
• USDA Rural Development: Federal agency funding partner that Rural Partners connects members to. Operates programs Rural Partners channels Illinois stakeholders toward — a complementary, not competitive, federal counterparty.
• National Rural Development Partnership (NRDP): Federal-state partnership of USDA that designates Rural Partners as the Illinois State Council. Operates as the parent network of state rural development councils, making it the structural umbrella for Rural Partners.

Direct peers

• Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs (IIRA): Western Illinois University-based rural research and policy center that co-hosts the annual Rural Community Economic Development Conference with Rural Partners. Operates in the same geography and mission space but with a research/academic emphasis.
• Center for Rural Strategies: Kentucky-based nonprofit supporting rural news, policy, and community development. Similar advocacy-plus-content model aimed at strengthening rural America.
• Partners for Rural America: National coalition of state rural development councils in which Rural Partners actively participates. Functions as the national peer federation, with shared policy advocacy and White House engagement.
• Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP): National network of nonprofit partners providing technical assistance to rural communities on water, wastewater, and community development — analogous regional/nonprofit infrastructure in a different functional domain.
• National Association of Development Organizations (NADO): National membership association representing regional development organizations and planning districts. Comparable membership-based rural/regional development model operating at the national level.
• Center for Rural Affairs: Nebraska-based nonprofit advocating for rural communities through policy, organizing, and small-business support. Highly comparable membership/advocacy model serving rural stakeholders in a different state.

Regional players

• Illinois Municipal League: Statewide association of Illinois municipalities. Overlaps with Rural Partners' local government segment and rural Illinois advocacy footprint, but serves all municipalities statewide.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rural-partners

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rural Partners