Rural communities make up a huge share of Michigan’s identity and economy, yet they often receive a surprisingly small slice of philanthropic giving and struggle to access state and federal grants.
We sit down with Lisa Miller from the Michigan Office of Rural Prosperity and Katie Brisson from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation to unpack why that mismatch happens and what it looks like on the ground when a small township is expected to compete in a system built for big-city staffing, timelines and paperwork.
We get concrete about the real barriers: geographic isolation, limited infrastructure and the simple fact that “capacity” in many rural places can mean one part-time administrator wearing five hats. Lisa explains how the state is building relationships and readiness through the Rural Readiness Network, helping communities connect their needs to plans, partners and funding before a deadline hits. Katie shares how rural grantmaking forces funders to rethink who counts as a grantee, from municipal entities to volunteer fire departments, Lions Clubs, senior centers and libraries that function as community hubs.
We also dig into what success should look like when the numbers are smaller and the geography is bigger. Instead of relying only on canned metrics, we talk about long-term systems change, stronger networks and building “muscle memory” so rural communities can pursue and manage larger funding over time.
If you care about rural prosperity, equitable philanthropy and smarter grantmaking, this conversation offers practical lessons you can use right away. Subscribe, share the episode with someone who works in local government or community development, and leave a rating or review so more people find it.