Hour 1: Grounding & Connection
Getting to know each other, building trust, and setting shared intentions

• Welcome & Opening Grounding

• Meet fellow funders and rural movement partners

• Reflect on what you’re ready to move toward — from building relationships to making aligned investments

• Learn why rural organizing matters now more than ever: political context, narrative strategy, and key data

• Hear stories from the field: how rural leaders are building power, and how funders are meeting the moment

Hour 2: Reflective Dialogue & Exploration
Digging deeper into the barriers, breakthroughs, and possibilities in our funding practices

• Interactive discussion: Who’s in the room and what are we carrying?

• Mapping challenges: What’s blocking us from resourcing rural power more fully?

• A deeper look at Roots Revealed and political education themes

• Facilitated reflection on grief, resilience, and what’s being revealed in this time

• Explore what funders need from IRSG and one another to stay committed for the long haul

Hour 3: Activation & Commitment
Turning insight into action, together

• Regrounding in the stakes: rural communities, statewide power, and the pushback we’re facing

• Small group discussions on how to move forward: building infrastructure, shifting practices, strengthening alignment

• Group reflections: takeaways, insights, and new relationships

• Closing circle: share commitments, next steps, and stay connected

• Preview what’s ahead at the IRSG Rural Power Session (and beyond)

Following the strategy session we will ask folks to join us for a reception! Details will be shared during session for security purposes. Contact IRSG Director, Lindsay Ryder at lindsay@nfg.org with any questions.