What Rural Assembly does

Rural Assembly is a nonprofit program of the Center for Rural Strategies, founded in 2007 and headquartered in Whitesburg, Kentucky. The organization convenes rural leaders, community members, women, journalists, and allies across the United States to amplify rural voices, reshape perceptions of rural America, and build connection between rural and urban communities. Its core offerings are content and convening products rather than software: the annual Rural Assembly Everywhere virtual gathering (with 30+ site partners across 21 states in 2026), the Rural Remix podcast (rebranded from Everywhere Radio in 2025, produced in collaboration with sister organization Daily Yonder), the Beyond the Clock podcast series, Morning Connections for Women (weekly virtual sessions), the Rural Assembly Blog, and the Rural Journalism Collective. All programming and content are provided free of charge to participants.

The organization has no proprietary technology platform, no APIs, no software integrations, and no AI/ML components in its product surface. Distribution occurs entirely through digital channels — its own website (ruralassembly.org), podcast platforms (Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Overcast), YouTube, and social media (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, TikTok) — plus a national network of local site partners that host in-person viewing gatherings synchronized with the annual Everywhere broadcast. The team is small (1-10 employees) and is led by Director of National Programs Whitney Kimball Coe, who hosts the Rural Remix podcast.

Rural Assembly's business model is nonprofit philanthropy: it operates on donations and grants, with no paid pricing tiers, subscription products, or commercial revenue streams. Revenue flows are not disclosed and are administered largely through the parent Center for Rural Strategies. Strategic partnerships with Daily Yonder (sister media organization), Appalshop (regional arts partner in Whitesburg), and the Rural Journalism Collective provide editorial and distribution synergies, while leadership figures (President Dee Davis, Director Whitney Kimball Coe) maintain visibility through appearances at national forums such as the Aspen Ideas Festival and the Obama Foundation Summit.

Name

Rural Assembly

Legal name

The Rural Assembly

Website

https://ruralassembly.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Rural Assembly is a nonprofit program of the Center for Rural Strategies that convenes rural leaders and community members across the United States through annual virtual gatherings, podcasts, blogs, and community programming to amplify rural voices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Whitesburg

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 Grants: As a nonprofit program of the Center for Rural Strategies, Rural Assembly relies on donations and philanthropic support to fund its operations. The organization invites supporters to contribute and references the Daily Yonder as a partner requiring separate support.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Rural Assembly is a nonprofit movement that produces free virtual gatherings (Rural Assembly Everywhere), podcasts (Rural Remix and Beyond the Clock), weekly connection sessions (Morning Connections for Women), a blog, and journalism programming to amplify rural voices and reshape perceptions of rural America. It operates as a program of the Center for Rural Strategies and partners with the Daily Yonder to deliver convening, media, and community-building content to rural leaders, community members, journalists, and allies nationwide.

Product overview

Rural Assembly is a nonprofit movement dedicated to celebrating and empowering rural people and places. The organization operates as a content and community platform rather than a software product. Its core offerings include Rural Assembly Everywhere (annual virtual conferences), the Rural Remix podcast (formerly Everywhere Radio), Morning Connections for Women, the Rural Assembly Blog, and the Rural Journalism Collective. The organization also partners with The Daily Yonder for media coverage and produces newsletters and various content series. No technical product integrations, APIs, or AI capabilities are offered.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rural Remix: A podcast collaboration between the Rural Assembly and the Daily Yonder, featuring interviews with guest artists and rural leaders. Previously known as Everywhere Radio.
• Morning Connections for Women
• Rural Journalism Collective

Products and services

• Rural Assembly Everywhere Annual virtual gathering/conference for rural leaders, community members, advocates, and allies to imagine new ways of expanding opportunity, share resources, and build a more connected rural America.
• Rural Remix (formerly Everywhere Radio) Podcast featuring interviews with guest artists, rural leaders, and allies spotlighting the good, scrappy, joyful ways rural people are building a more inclusive nation. A collaboration between Rural Assembly and the Daily Yonder.
• Morning Connections for Women Weekly virtual gathering for women held on Thursdays, providing a space for connection, empowerment, and community among rural women.
• Rural Assembly Blog Digital publication featuring stories, commentary, and perspectives on rural life, culture, and community issues.
• Rural Journalism Collective Collective focused on supporting and amplifying rural journalism and storytellers across rural America.
• Beyond the Clock Podcast featuring interviews with guest artists as part of the Rural Remix podcast network.
• Gatherings In-person and virtual events bringing together rural leaders and allies, including recordings of past events.
• Newsletters Email newsletters keeping subscribers informed about Rural Assembly activities, events, and content.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30+ site partners hosting local events in 21 states for Rural Assembly Everywhere 2026
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Daily YondercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDaily Yonder is the primary media partner and sister organization of Rural Assembly, both being programs of the Center for Rural Strategies. The Daily Yonder provides news coverage, editorial content, and promotional support for Rural Assembly events and programming. Tim Marema serves as editor of Daily Yonder and appears on Rural Assembly podcasts regularly.
• Center for Rural StrategiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRural Assembly is a program of the Center for Rural Strategies, a nonprofit organization based in Whitesburg, KY that focuses on improving rural policy and opportunity. The Center provides institutional support, leadership (including President Dee Davis and Director Whitney Kimball Coe), and connects Rural Assembly to broader rural advocacy work.
• AppalshopminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAppalshop, an arts and cultural center in Whitesburg, Kentucky, is referenced as a partner organization. Jessica Shelton serves as director of Appalachian Media Institute at Appalshop. The organizations share staff and programming connections through the Eastern Kentucky community.
• Rural Journalism CollectiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA collaborative initiative mentioned under Rural Assembly's Participate section, bringing together rural journalists for coverage and storytelling about rural communities and issues.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Center for Rural Strategies: Parent nonprofit organization of Rural Assembly, focused on improving rural policy and opportunity from Whitesburg, KY. Operates the same rural-advocacy mission with overlapping staff and the Daily Yonder platform.

Direct peers

• Heartland Forward: Think-and-do tank focused on economic performance and opportunity in the rural and mid-sized communities of the central United States. Comparable as a rural-focused nonprofit that produces research, convenings, and narrative-shaping content.
• Daily Yonder: National rural news platform and explicit sister organization of Rural Assembly, both housed at the Center for Rural Strategies. Directly comparable as a rural-focused nonprofit media outlet covering rural policy, community, and culture.
• National Rural Health Association: Membership-based nonprofit advocating for rural health through policy, education, and convening. Comparable as a national rural advocacy organization that runs conferences, member programs, and issue campaigns.
• Rural Community Assistance Partnership: National network of nonprofit partners serving rural communities with training, technical assistance, and capacity building. Comparable as a rural-focused nonprofit that convenes regional partners across many states to support underserved communities.

Regional players

• Appalshop: Eastern Kentucky arts and cultural center that produces films, recordings, and media about Appalachian life. Directly comparable as a rural media-and-culture nonprofit with overlapping staff (e.g., Appalachian Media Institute) and shared geographic roots.

Broad incumbents

• The Aspen Institute: Large national nonprofit that convenes leaders across sectors and geographies (including the Aspen Ideas Festival). Comparable as a convening-and-ideas nonprofit whose programming Rural Assembly leadership has participated in.
• American Farm Bureau Federation: Large national membership organization advocating for rural and agricultural communities through policy and convening. Comparable as a rural advocacy organization with significantly greater scale and resources.

Emerging players

• Yonder Radio: Rural-focused audio programming referenced on Rural Assembly's own website. Comparable as a small rural storytelling audio outlet with overlapping audience and content themes.
• StoryCorps: National nonprofit that records and broadcasts oral history interviews from everyday Americans, distributed via podcast and broadcast. Comparable as a storytelling nonprofit that uses audio content to amplify underrepresented voices—a model adjacent to Rural Remix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ruralassembly
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCohsGFc_fveBnq33klj_lSA
• Facebookfacebook.com/ruralassembly
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rural-assembly
• Instagraminstagram.com/rural_assembly
• TikToktiktok.com/@keepitrural

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Rural Assembly