Yoneo Ono Award Criteria and Nomination Form

RCAC’s programs and services deliver solutions to complex community needs. Our local presence allows us to develop partnerships with communities to identify needs, set goals, and select the best options to meet those goals. RCAC and our partners provide the tools to create change and growth, but the communities chart their own course. Collaboration, plus community effort will equal community change. How can we help you?

RCAC’s Loan Fund is a financial resource for rural communities. The Loan Fund fills financing gaps and serves in unconventional markets. We offer loans for affordable housing development, environmental infrastructure, community facilities and small businesses in rural locations.

Decent housing, safe drinking water, education, financing, jobs, community facilities, leadership, families are the many facets to RCAC's work.

RCAC expands the knowledge base of the rural public through education and training. Our training expertise is in technical, financial, and administrative issues that affect rural communities. We take great pride in our professional trainer team's capacity and effectiveness. Our trainers maximize audience participation to keep trainings relevant and memorable.

RCAC's news and publications are a compilation of timely news, announcements and accomplishments produced for the rural development world.

Sub-standard housing and poverty are commonplace in low-income rural communities. Many of these communities also face daunting challenges to access safe, clean drinking water and to develop other vital infrastructure. These issues are often overlooked in policy because rural communities lack the resources, training or social networks that are found in urban areas. Learn how you can advocate for the under-served population in the West.

Founded in 1978, RCAC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that partners with rural and Indigenous communities to achieve their vision and well being through technical assistance, training, financial resources and advocacy. For more than 45 years, our dedicated staff and active board, coupled with our key values: leadership, collaboration, commitment, quality and integrity, have helped effect positive change in rural communities across the West. Learn more about who we are and how we operate.

Yoneo Ono award criteria and nomination form

RCAC seeks nominations for the Yoneo Ono Rural Volunteer Award. The award honors rural people who have made significant lifelong contributions to their community in volunteer capacities. RCAC’s Board of Directors presents the award to the honoree during a reception held in their community, and a cash award is donated to a local charitable organization of the honoree’s choice.

RCAC hopes to encourage further rural volunteer activities by acknowledging the accomplishments of a select few. We need your help to identify an outstanding rural volunteer to receive this distinguished award.

If you know individuals who have these special qualities, and would like to see their hard work recognized please complete and submit the Yoneo Ono Award Nomination form (see below).

The RCAC board of directors uses six criteria to determine each year’s award winner. The first two criteria are minimum requirements.

The service must have occurred within rural communities of RCAC’s region, including Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming and the western Pacific.
The service was volunteered and not a function of the nominee’s job. The next four criteria are listed in order of importance to rank and compare the nominees.
The degree to which the volunteer service made a difference in the quality of life for the rural community.
The type and needs of the communities of people served based on rural status, income, ethnicity, population and similar criteria.
The length and variety of the nominee’s volunteer activities.
The relationship of the nominee, project and communities to RCAC.

Please note that RCAC affiliation is NOT an application or award requirement. RCAC staff members review nominations and submit them to the board of directors for final selection.

The award is presented every two years so nominate your outstanding volunteer now!