Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott invests $20 million in RCAC to leverage and advance RCAC’s work in Indigenous and rural communities across the rural West

West Sacramento, Calif. —Rural Community Assistance Corporation’s board and staff are honored to announce the receipt of a $20 million grant from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. Ms. Scott announced the award Tuesday, December 15 on Medium.

This generous gift is unique in terms of its size, flexibility and creativity, allowing RCAC to accelerate and elevate its work with Indigenous and rural communities in the rural West. Read more

RCAC story highlights from 2020

Self-help perseveres through pandemic

More than 85 percent of the self-help grantees RCAC works with are still in construction with modified construction processes, this is no small feat. U.S. Department of Agriculture – Rural Development has been an admirable partner and shown great flexibility, allowing grantees to change the way they work while still adhering to the program’s intent. Read more

In a time of crisis, new partnerships emerge to provide payroll relief

Like most small businesses, the United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) of San Luis Obispo considered March on track to be a typical month. The thriving nonprofit organization has provided critical community services for California’s central coast since 1987. Over time, it expanded services to people with a range of developmental disabilities beyond cerebral palsy. Read more

RCAC joins collaborative effort to distribute cloth masks

As the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other agencies developed plans to address the COVID-19 pandemic, Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) joined a major endeavor to distribute hundreds of thousands of cloth facemasks to water and wastewater operators in Arizona, California and Nevada. Read more

Wells Fargo Foundation grant supports housing counseling services to Northern California Tribes

Northern Circle Indian Housing Authority (NCIHA) provides affordable housing services, including housing counseling to Native American households in the rural Ukiah, California area. Dana Novoa, NCIHA’s sole housing counselor, travels as far as Butte County, a three-hour journey one way, to provide services for Tribal families. Read more

Building Rural Economies program adapts and thrives in the new normal

Rural Community Assistance Corporation’s Building Rural Economies (BRE) program has been a resounding success since it first launched in 2015. The BRE team served 30 plus communities; and their efforts generated millions in investments and created or saved hundreds of jobs. The team is known for its adaptability when dealing with diverse communities in the rural West. Read more