b'CEO LetterDear Friends and Supporters Our team had an increasingly busy 2021, despite a continued of RCAC, virtual reality, with staff working 100 percent remotely, and navigating online communications and virtual meetings. We During 2021, RCAC continued to elevatecontinued to cultivate funding opportunities to support our and move forward our expansive bodycommunities as COVID continued to have a negative impact of work in the rural and Indigenous West. through both programmatic and Loan Fund investments. We Bolstered by MacKenzie Scotts $20 millionmade progress on several important initiatives including:investment, our organization began to implement its Strategic Framework withFacilitating Paycheck Protection Program Loan a focus on delivering services in different, innovative and moreForgivenessimpactful ways, while always honoring RCACs powerful 40-plusBiomass Utilization Fund Project Developmentyear legacy. Our Strategic Directions include: Partners For Rural Transformation (PRT) Partnership Rural Community Assistance Program (RCAP) Core Competencies PartnershipIncreased InvestmentCultural Lending Initiative Partnership and DesignIndigenous CommunitiesDiversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Listening SessionsDiversity, Equity and InclusionLoan Fund Assessment ImplementationCapacity Building and InnovationJob Market Value Salary Survey Outcome MeasurementData and Impact Initiative Discovery and InventoryThe Vector Fund was a key element in the years work. We createdWellness Initiative Plan Developmentthe Fund to house the MacKenzie Scott grant, received in lateThere is much more to do in our communities and organization 2020. The Vector Fund is a tribute to our deep-seated passion forto move the needle. We occupy a unique place in the rural and the communities we serve. The Vector Fund provides RCAC staffIndigenous community development ecosystem. We must never with a unique opportunity to create and implement initiativesforget that our role in contributing to positive outcomes for that deepen and/or expand RCACs impact in Indigenous andour rural and Indigenous communities is based on an intricate rural communities, including increased internal efficiencies andweb of partnerships, performance and trust. Many times, we equity, access to safe drinking water, decent and affordablefind ourselves leading, but we are learning the value of knowing housing, financial resources and economic stability.when to support and follow those with cultural and grounded I am proud that our very first investment from the Vector Fundknowledge of the very communities we hope to support. I am was made into our RCAC community in accordance with ourgrateful and humbled to be a part of this organization and the Board approved Compensation Philosophy. In the fall of 2021,RCAC community. Through continued partnership with our RCAC staff submitted innovative proposals to be funded throughfunders, partners and communities, we can collectively continue the Vector Fund, and several are in the implementation stage.to move towards our vision of a vibrant, healthy, enduring rural RCAC committed to a 1:1 match for the MacKenzie Scott grant,and Indigenous West.increasing our total investment to $40 million over the next years.Suzanne Anarde, Chief Executive Officer2021 Rural Community Assistance Corporation Annual Report 1'