VOICES FROM THE FIELD: RURAL ORGANIZERS ON WHAT THEY NEED FROM FUNDERS
As a first step in establishing a framework and priorities, the Integrated Rural Strategies Group commissioned a scan of rural organizing work. From this scan, the group has gained literacy in the organizing work already taking place and further defined the group’s role and intended impact in the landscape of rural organizing. Capturing the voices of organizers on the ground, the scan identified the following priorities: infrastructure and capacity, strategizing for impact, and anti-racist organizing.

WELLBEING MICROGRANTS
Wellbeing Microgrants are a new approach to engage and support Santa Monica residents looking to make a positive change in their community. Designed to empower residents, the City provides up to $500 for ideas that are focused on small scale action to improve community wellbeing. This initiative is a key component of the first phase of the Pico Wellbeing Project.

WHAT LOVE LOOKS LIKE IN PHILANTHROPY: SHARED POWER AND TRANSPARENCY
How does philanthropy stay accountable to the values we claim to espouse? As the National Creative Placemaking Fund (NCPF) at ArtPlace America came to a close at the end of 2017, we decided to interrogate how effective we had been at aligning our values with our assumptions and philanthropic practice.