Rural Investment Collaborative Partners
The Rural Investment Collaborative (RIC) is led by the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond in collaboration with several core partners.
Role of the Richmond Fed
The Richmond Fed provides leadership, project management and technical assistance for the initiative. The Richmond Fed does not fund or otherwise award grants, participate in the selection of grantees or selection of communities receiving training or technical assistance.
Role of the RIC Steering Group
An independent Steering Group, comprised of state and national leaders from rural intermediaries, businesses, nonprofits, philanthropy and the public sector, reviews all applications and awards the grants. Members of the various RIC workgroups, which do not include Bank representatives, provide recommendations and input to the steering group’s decisions.
Role of Appalachian Community Capital
Appalachian Community Capital (ACC) serves as the fiscal sponsor for the RIC. ACC has a designated, specific purpose fund to receive and distribute funds raised by the RIC steering group.
Role of Invest Appalachia
Invest Appalachia provides the core curriculum for the Community Investment Training. Invest Appalachia licenses the curriculum and contracts with training facilitators and speakers. Wright Venture Services provides lead facilitation and content management on behalf of Invest Appalachia.
Role of Independent Evaluator
The RIC uses an independent evaluator to help ensure accountability and success. The evaluator will provide assessment and feedback on the overall effectiveness of the RIC program and Community Investment Training graduates’ progress and outcomes.
Role of Community Investment Partners
The RIC’s fiscal sponsor, Appalachian Community Capital, receives and distributes monies raised by the RIC steering group. These monies fund the mini-grants, technical assistance grants and implementation grants that are awarded to eligible Community Investment Training members. Contributions from the following organizations help make the steering group’s vision for supporting rural communities possible.
Current Partners
- Annie E. Casey Foundation
- Appalachian Community Capital
- Camber Foundation
- Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation
- Community Foundation for a greater Richmond
- Dominion Energy
- Invest Appalachia
- North Carolina Rural Center
- SECU Foundation
- The Cannon Foundation
- The Duke Endowment
- United Way of Greater Charlotte
- United Way of Southwest Virginia
- River Counties Community Foundation
- Rural Maryland Council
- Z. Smith Reynolds
The Richmond Fed does not fund or otherwise award grants, participate in the selection of grantees or selection of communities receiving training or technical assistance.