RuralOrganizing

What RuralOrganizing does

RuralOrganizing is a 501(c) nonprofit organization founded in 2011 and headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, that supports progressive civic leaders, organizers, and activists in small towns and rural communities across the United States. The organization's core offering is the "Vocal Locals" volunteer network — a distributed field infrastructure that recruits, trains, and mobilizes thousands of rural volunteers for voter contact, yard-sign visibility campaigns, and coalition-based advocacy. It augments this network with a suite of downloadable toolkits covering community needs assessments, field campaign execution, yard-sign strategy, misinformation countermeasures, and rural voter engagement, plus policy memos (e.g., federal budget analysis with RuralProgress and the Center for American Progress). The organization also runs the "Rural 2050 Initiative," a long-horizon community vision-building program.

The technology stack is data-driven but not technology-heavy: RuralOrganizing's primary proprietary assets are (1) a "Rural Power Building Data Analysis" that identifies the top 100 rural counties for organizing investment using 2020-2022 federal and gubernatorial election results, and (2) a "Drop-off/Pick-up Survey Methodology" that combines door-knocking with survey research to broaden community reach. The organization maintains a website, ActionNetwork-integrated fundraising and petition infrastructure, and a presence across Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. It has no mobile app, no public API, and no disclosed AI/ML capabilities. Field operations rely on ActionNetwork, distributed canvassing apps, and volunteer-led logistics rather than a custom field-management platform.

RuralOrganizing's revenue model is donation-based: the organization raises funds through individual donations (via ActionNetwork), event-based fundraising, and co-branded campaigns with partners such as MoveOn. All resources, toolkits, and training are provided free of charge to users. Its primary "customer" segments are rural progressive organizers (the primary persona), Democratic candidates running in rural districts, local partner organizations, and rural voters. The organization is governed by a small board and led by Executive Director Matt Hildreth, with a staff that includes a Director of Organizing, a Policy Director, Strategic and Digital Communications leads, and distributed field staff across multiple states.

Name

RuralOrganizing

Legal name

RuralOrganizing

Website

https://ruralorganizing.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

RuralOrganizing is a 501(c) nonprofit that equips rural progressive organizers with training, toolkits, and the Vocal Locals volunteer network, mobilizing voter contact and policy campaigns across 17 U.S. states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civic Engagement and Political Advocacy

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Rural Livelihoods & Economic Empowerment (BPAGABAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Grassroots organizing
• Civic engagement
• Rural advocacy
• Community organizing
• Progressive campaigns

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The organization relies on donations from supporters and fundraising campaigns. The site features a donate button linking to ActionNetwork fundraising pages.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

RuralOrganizing operates a national organizing network for rural and small-town civic leaders, providing free organizing toolkits, training resources, data-driven campaign strategy, and coordinated field programs. Its core distribution is a network of volunteer "Vocal Locals" supported by downloadable toolkits covering community needs assessments, rural campaign execution, yard sign visibility, misinformation response, and progressive engagement. The organization also runs targeted field programs (Vocal Local Program) and long-term vision initiatives (Rural 2050) for progressive causes in rural communities.

Product overview

RuralOrganizing.org is a national organizing network providing a platform and suite of toolkits/resources for civic leaders, organizers, and activists in rural communities. The offering consists of the core RuralOrganizing.org organizing platform, multiple downloadable toolkits (Rural Community Needs Assessment, Running Campaigns, Progressive Strategies, Fighting Misinformation, Yard Signs, Division-Based Politics), the Vocal Local campaign program for volunteer mobilization, and the Rural 2050 initiative for long-term rural vision building. The organization focuses on progressive rural organizing through grassroots engagement, data-driven strategies, and community resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• RuralOrganizing.org Platform A national organizing network platform connecting civic leaders, organizers, and activists working to create positive change in rural communities through organizing tools, resources, and strategic campaigns. It serves as the central hub for the Vocal Local volunteer program, campaigns, toolkits, and partner coordination.
• Rural Community Needs Assessment Toolkit
• Running Campaigns in Rural Communities Toolkit
• Progressive Strategies For Rural Engagement Toolkit
• Fighting Misinformation In Small Towns Toolkit
• Leveraging Yard Signs In Rural Communities Toolkit
• Overcoming Division-Based Politics Toolkit
• Vocal Local Program
• Rural 2050 Initiative

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 500,000 conversations facilitated between neighbors in rural communities
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MoveOncoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2025Co-branded petition campaign calling on USDA to fund SNAP benefits during government shutdown. 50,000+ signatures collected through partnership.
• RuralVote.org Super PaccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCampaign partnership for 2023-2024 rural voter mobilization. RuralOrganizing contributed nearly 100,000 yard signs and facilitated nearly 500,000 conversations through the partnership.
• Rural GroundGameminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVirginia-focused partnership helping Virginia Democrats run candidates in all 100 districts.
• RuralProgresscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership on federal budget analysis examining effects on rural communities. Jointly released memo on rural impacts.
• Food Research and Action CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in federal budget analysis examining effects on rural communities including food assistance programs.
• Center for American ProgressminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in federal budget analysis examining effects on rural communities.
• Agrarian Policy CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in federal budget analysis examining effects on rural communities.
• Long Rows ConsultingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in federal budget analysis examining effects on rural communities.
• Indivisible PoconosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner for Pennsylvania rally against Trump rural policies.
• Action Together NEPAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner for Pennsylvania rally against Trump rural policies.
• Mutual Aid of the PoconosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner for Pennsylvania rally against Trump rural policies.
• Dirtroad OrganizingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCohort training program for rural organizers shared via partner resources page.
• Radically RuralminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner resource for recruiting volunteers, shared via RuralOrganizing's partner resources page.
• Rust Belt RisingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCandidate training program shared via partner resources page.
• RECETminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRural co-op campaign guide shared via partner resources page.
• Rural Urban Bridge InitiativeminorGTM or Marketing Partner2022 report shared via partner resources page.
• Indivisible Appalachian OhiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term organizing partner in Athens County for ballot initiatives and voter mobilization.
• Western Native VoiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured in Rural Activism Series discussing rural radio and billboard campaigns.
• Montana Rural Voters Action FundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured in Rural Activism Series discussing rural radio and billboard campaigns.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• MoveOn:

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/RuralOrganizing
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ruralorganizing
• Facebookfacebook.com/RuralOrganizing
• Instagraminstagram.com/RuralOrganizing
• TikToktiktok.com/@ruralorganizing

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

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 RuralOrganizing