Resourceful Communities

For more than 30 years, Resourceful Communities has partnered with 500+ rural grassroots and community organizations, improving economic outcomes, creating opportunities that preserve the rural landscape, lifting people out of poverty, and celebrating the unique cultures of our partner communities.

We believe that environmental stewardship, social justice, and sustainable economic development must go hand in hand. We help communities implement this “triple bottom line” strategy by strengthening organizations through capacity building, investing in communities through small grants, and weaving our partners into a robust network. This integrated approach invests in grassroots leadership capacity and fosters local innovation, nurturing real change where it is needed most.

Strategies

"All I have to do is make a phone call and they will assist with whatever or point me in the right direction."

Strengthening organizations through capacity building

We strengthen grassroots organizations through tailored capacity building that increases their effectiveness, sustainability, and community impact.

Our free-of-charge support ranges from individualized technical assistance to workshops that build essential skills through expert and peer learning, uplifting rural examples. Topics often include board development, fundraising, project planning, equitable partnerships, and community-engagement strategies.

"After 5 years in operation, Resourceful Communities provided us with our very first grant, which led to us receiving three additional grants from other organizations. We would not be where we are without you believing in our program."

Investing in communities through small grants

Through our Creating New Economies Fund (CNEF) small grants fund, we invest in community-driven projects that build local wealth, protect natural resources, and strengthen rural resilience. These small grants – typically ranging from $8,000 to $12,000 – support projects that make triple-bottom-line impacts, such as sustainable agriculture, youth leadership, health and nutrition, and eco-tourism, reflecting the priorities and creativity of rural communities.

By combining funding with capacity building, training, and connections to additional resources, CNEF ensures that community-led efforts grow stronger and more sustainable over time.

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“What does Resourceful Communities do well? Convening folks from all over the state working toward similar goals, providing support and education to enhance our work, offering opportunities for us to be inspired by each other's brilliance.”

Nurturing our network

We support a growing network of grassroots partners and resource organizations that drive collaboration, equity, and shared learning across rural communities. By connecting people across age, race, economic status, and geography, we help local leaders exchange knowledge, spark innovation, and build partnerships that multiply impact.

Through annual convenings, peer learning visits, and facilitated connections, we ensure that communities often excluded from traditional funding and decision-making have access to resources and begin building equitable partnerships.

Initiatives

Food

We strengthen North Carolina’s local food system from the ground up — supporting farmers, food hubs, and community organizations that are building a fairer, healthier, and more resilient food economy. Our work helps local farmers thrive, creates economic opportunity across communities, and expands equitable access to fresh, nutritious food for all.

At the systems level, we convene the NC Food Hub Collaborative (www.ncfoodhubs.org) — a statewide network working together to connect farms to markets, pay farmers fair-market prices, and ensure that healthy, local food reaches every table, especially in communities where it’s needed most.

Health

We support rural organizations addressing the root causes of health disparities through community-driven programming. Focusing on healthy and entrepreneurial food access, nutrition, and equitable opportunities for outdoor recreation, we help communities strengthen local food systems, improve health outcomes, and build long-term resilience.

Faith

Faith communities are trusted, deeply rooted institutions with the relationships and resources to drive meaningful local change. We partner with them to address the environmental, social, and economic challenges their rural congregations and neighbors face. By helping faith partners leverage their assets, including land, kitchens, transportation, and dedicated volunteers, we strengthen youth programs, expand leadership development opportunities, and improve access to healthy food in rural communities.

Land

We help historically underserved landowners protect their land, build generational wealth, and strengthen the cultural and environmental legacy of their communities.

Through education, technical assistance, and peer support, we help landowners retain their family land, manage it sustainably, and grow its value for future generations. Our promotion of best landownership practices, education, and engagement efforts spans sustainable timber management, responsible hunting practices, and the preservation of African American cemeteries.

Environmental resilience

We work with communities and tribal partners to help them steward their water and land resources in ways that build long-term resilience and protect community heritage. We connect local priorities to broader environmental resilience planning, helping communities advance goals such as flood mitigation, wildlife habitat restoration, and eco- and heritage tourism that strengthen both ecosystems and economies.