Rural Organizing Project

What Rural Organizing Project does

Rural Organizing Project (ROP) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1992 and headquartered in Cottage Grove, Oregon, that builds, supports, and connects a statewide network of 95+ autonomous, volunteer-run human dignity groups across 33 of Oregon's 36 counties. Its core 'technology' is a community-organizing platform — not a software product but a coordinated network infrastructure comprising membership governance, leadership development programs (e.g., the Rural Organizing Fellowship with 10 fellows in 2020-2021), shared toolkits (Capacity Building, Safety, Neighbor to Neighbor, Menu of Options for Community Protection), and bilingual English/Spanish resources. ROP also operates two community centers, including the Center for Community Building T'e Enterash in Cottage Grove, which anchor its mutual-aid and rapid-response work.

ROP's business model is donation-funded. It does not sell products or charge membership dues; instead, it generates revenue through individual donations (including a monthly sustainer program), planned/legacy giving, stock gifts, and vehicle donations. The go-to-market motion is community-led: human dignity groups apply to join the network, ROP provides capacity-building support and strategic organizing assistance, member groups vote annually for the Board of Directors, and the organization shapes statewide program priorities in coordination with members. Distribution channels include the rop.org website, the ROPnet email newsletter, three social channels, the Rural Roots Rising podcast (distributed through 19 partnered community radio stations), annual Rural Caucus & Strategy Sessions, and printed materials such as STAND election guides. ROP is also an active litigant and policy advocate, with recent wins including ending the ICE contract at NORCOR, supporting passage of Oregon's Sanctuary Promise Act, and securing a 2026 settlement with Columbia County on jail sanctuary-law compliance.

Name

Rural Organizing Project

Legal name

Rural Organizing Project

Website

https://rop.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Rural Organizing Project is a 1992-founded Oregon nonprofit that builds, supports, and connects 95+ volunteer human dignity groups across rural Oregon through toolkits, advocacy, media, and community centers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Organizing and Civic Engagement Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Leadership, Civic Education & Service-Learning Nonprofits (BPAGADAI)

Keywords

• Community organizing services
• Civic engagement programs
• Grassroots advocacy
• Nonprofit network building
• Rural coalition support

Headquarters

HQ city

Cottage Grove

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. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting rural organizing and human dignity work. Monthly sustainer program mentioned as a key revenue stream.
2. Planned Giving: Legacy giving programs allowing supporters to include ROP in their estate planning.
3. Stock Gifts: Acceptance of stock gifts as a form of donation.
4. Vehicle Donations: Donated used vehicles converted to cash for ROP organizing.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Rural Organizing Project builds, supports, and connects a statewide network of 95+ autonomous volunteer-run human dignity groups across rural Oregon. It delivers this through capacity-building toolkits, organizing guides, voter education materials, a monthly podcast, an organizer fellowship, two community centers, and advocacy for sanctuary and human dignity policies. The organization is funded by donations and grants and offers its resources and membership to groups at no cost.

Product overview

Rural Organizing Project (ROP) is a nonprofit organization that builds, supports, and connects human dignity groups across rural Oregon. Rather than a unified software product, ROP offers a portfolio of organizing resources, toolkits, educational materials, media content, and programs. Key offerings include the Capacity Building Toolkit and Safety Toolkit for local group development, the STAND Election Guides for voter education, the Neighbor to Neighbor Toolkit for grassroots engagement, the Rural Roots Rising podcast for community media, the Menu of Options for Community Protection and Rapid Response for sanctuary policy enforcement, the Rural Organizing Fellowship for organizer development, and the annual Rural Caucus & Strategy Session for statewide movement building. ROP also operates two community centers including the Center for Community Building T'e Enterash in Cottage Grove. The organization does not offer a software product with technical integrations, API access, or AI capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rural Roots Rising Radio: A monthly podcast by and for rural Oregonians who are creatively and courageously building stronger and more vibrant communities for a just democracy. The podcast is produced by ROP and distributed through 19 partnered community radio stations across Oregon.
• ROP STAND Election Guides
• Neighbor to Neighbor Toolkit
• Up In Arms: A Guide to Oregon's Patriot Movement

Products and services

• Rural Roots Rising Podcast Monthly podcast by and for rural Oregonians featuring voices and organizing lessons from community leaders building the human dignity movement; available via 19 partnered community radio stations and podcast platforms.
• STAND Election Guides Printed and digital voter education guides in English and Spanish that help human dignity groups engage neighbors, analyze ballot measures, and support civic participation across rural Oregon.
• Capacity Building Toolkit Resources to build the strength of Human Dignity Groups to organize effectively for the months and years ahead.
• Safety Toolkit Resources to help groups create a culture of safety and security, including threat assessments, safety planning for events, and safety team organization.
• Neighbor to Neighbor Toolkit Guide for talking to neighbors and bringing more people into the movement for human dignity, developed in conversation with local leaders.
• Menu of Options: Community Protection and Rapid Response Tool to help identify strategies for community protection and rapid response, including welcoming teams, rapid response infrastructure, mutual aid, and sanctuary policy enforcement.
• Rural Organizing Fellowship Fellowship program developing rural organizers across the state, with cohorts of fellows placed across Oregon.
• Center for Community Building T'e Enterash Community center in Cottage Grove, Oregon serving as a hub for organizing activities, mutual aid distribution, and community gatherings (one of two ROP community centers).
• Rural Caucus & Strategy Session Annual statewide gathering of rural human dignity leaders from across Oregon for strategy, networking, and movement building.
• ROPnet Newsletter Email newsletter providing updates on rural organizing, issues, events, actions, and opportunities at the state level, including the monthly Kitchen Table Activism edition.

Quantifiable outcome

• Settlement with Columbia County on jail policies and sanctuary law compliance, requiring removal of ICE as authorized user and prohibiting holds for immigration-related charges
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• South Lane School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2020ROP, in partnership with South Lane School District, runs twice-weekly food, hygiene supply, clothing, pet food, housewares, and book-shares distribution at 632 E Main St in Cottage Grove. This mutual aid program serves community members who lost access to reliable income, housing, and healthy food, including many asylum-seeking families.
• RuralRootsRising.orgcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019Rural Roots Rising is a community media project that grew out of the 2019 Rural Caucus & Strategy Session. ROP produces this monthly podcast by and for rural Oregonians, distributed through RuralRootsRising.org and 19 partnered community radio stations.
• Political Research AssociatescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 September 2016Up In Arms: A Guide to Oregon's Patriot Movement was developed by Rural Organizing Project in partnership with Political Research Associates through extensive research on right-wing movements and local community leader and academic expertise. The guide exposes, explains, and offers alternatives to the Patriot Movement.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• State Voices: National civic engagement infrastructure nonprofit supporting state-based coalitions for voter mobilization and advocacy. Highly comparable to ROP in providing coordination capacity to a distributed network of local civic groups, though operating across multiple states.
• Western States Center: Portland-based regional nonprofit working on democratic infrastructure, civic engagement, and countering hate movements in rural and small-town communities across the western U.S. Highly comparable to ROP in mission (democracy, human dignity, anti-extremism) and rural organizing model.
• Mijente: Latino and Latinx organizing network focused on immigration, criminal justice, and civic participation. Comparable to ROP through overlapping sanctuary policy advocacy and bilingual community organizing.
• Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI-USA): North Carolina-based nonprofit supporting rural communities facing agricultural and economic challenges. Compares to ROP through its explicit rural-community focus and grassroots organizing methodology, though focused on agricultural issues.
• Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ): National network organizing white people for racial justice through local chapters. Compares to ROP in mobilizing rural and small-town constituencies on human dignity and anti-extremism issues.
• United We Dream: Largest immigrant youth-led network in the U.S., focused on immigrant rights and sanctuary policy. Directly comparable to ROP's sanctuary law enforcement work and grassroots organizing model.

Broad incumbents

• Community Change: National racial and economic justice nonprofit that supports grassroots organizing led by people of color and low-income communities. Similar to ROP in its network-based model connecting local groups to broader movement strategy.
• Faith in Action: National faith-based organizing network that builds power in local communities through member-driven campaigns on social and economic issues. Comparable to ROP in community organizing methodology, though operating at national scale across urban and suburban geographies.
• People's Action: National network of community organizing groups pursuing racial, economic, and climate justice. Compares to ROP through its federated model of local affiliates coordinating on state and federal policy campaigns.

Emerging players

• Demos: National progressive policy and advocacy organization focused on democracy, economic equity, and racial justice. Comparable to ROP through shared focus on voting rights, civic participation, and democracy reform.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ruralorganize
• Facebookfacebook.com/RuralOrganizingProject
• Instagraminstagram.com/ruralorganizingproject
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rural-organizing-project

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 Organizing Project