Compeer Financial awards more than $1.4 million to rural foundations

SUN PRAIRIE, Wis. — Demonstrating its commitment to rural vitality, Compeer Financial has committed more than $1.4 million to 14 foundations across Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin through its Rural Collaboration Project.

Selected community and initiative foundations will disperse funds over the next one to three years to organizations aligned with the long-term strategic vision for community vitality.

“As a rural lending cooperative, Compeer Financial understands the importance of empowering rural communities to be active, strong and economically vibrant,” said Karen Schieler, manager of Compeer Giving at Compeer Financial.

“These qualities are essential to creating a high quality of life for rural residents, which helps retain and attract residents. How each community achieves this will be different, which is why we have the Rural Collaboration Project.

“It allows us to collaborate with foundations that best understand the needs within their communities and disperse funds where they will make the greatest impact.”

In its third year, the Rural Collaboration Project is designed to uplift organizations and their efforts to support, serve and expand programs that foster rural vitality.

Compeer Financial recognizes that community and initiative foundations maintain a pulse on the unique needs of their communities and are best qualified to directly disperse funding.

In response, the Rural Collaboration Project provides funding to those foundations so they can leverage the dollars through their own grant programs where funds can make a bigger, broader impact.

Projects receiving funds have a sustainable long-term plan and fit within the community’s long-term strategic vision for rural vitality, as well as align with Compeer Financial’s focus areas for enhancing the health and vibrancy of rural communities.

Agriculture: Programs, projects and services that enhance the agricultural landscape and opportunities in a rural community.

Community Development: Programs and projects contributing to the essential needs of the community. This can include health care, day care and other areas impacting the quality of life for families and community members of all ages.

Entrepreneurship/Small Business Support: Programs and services helping the creative, cutting-edge entrepreneurs and small business owners in a rural community.

Housing Expansion: Programs and services supporting rural housing cooperatives or consultants, or enhancements to single-family, multifamily and workforce housing efforts. Excludes efforts related to homelessness.

Leadership Development, Youth and Adult: Programs and projects helping to inspire, train and promote leadership for both youth and adults in rural communities.

Rural Education: Enhancing programming, innovations and experiences at preK-12 schools to ensure students have access to world-class education.

Workforce Development: Programs and projects attracting, retaining, training and sustaining community members — current and future — for vital jobs and careers.

Community foundations supported through the 2026 Compeer Giving Rural Collaboration Project grants include:

Illinois

• Community Foundation of the Quincy Area

• DeKalb County Community Foundation

• Galesburg Community Foundation

• Moline Regional Community Foundation

• Morton Community Foundation

Minnesota

• Initiative Foundation

• Northland Foundation

• Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation

• Southwest Initiative Foundation

Wisconsin

• Community Foundation of Chippewa County

• Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin

• Fond du Lac Area Foundation

• Greater Watertown Community Health Foundation

• Viroqua Area Foundation

To be eligible for a Rural Collaboration Project grant, communities must be within Compeer Financial’s 144-county territory and demonstrate that community leaders are working together on enhancements and improvements focused on short- and long-term vitality.

In addition, the community population should be under 10,000; represent a regional, rural micropolitan area of 50,000 residents; or represent a regional initiative foundation.