Description

Registration deadline is Monday, April 29!

The third annual Rural Philanthropy Summit will feature rural experts and seasoned practitioners on timely topics.

The Summit will kick off with optional Pre-Summit activities on Thursday, April 10 with the evening welcome social at the Lodge of Four Seasons in Lake Ozark. The Summit will open on Friday, April 11 with plenary sessions featuring speakers with experience in rural philanthropy both nationally and in Missouri. The agenda will also include panel discussions, built-in time to meet with like-minded funders and two rounds of breakout sessions*.

*Please note: Agenda, including breakout offerings, is subject to change.

keynote

WHO GETS TO TELL YOUR STORY?

Each rural community strives for a vibrant future and has a story to tell. Join Erin Borla of the Roundhouse Foundation for this opening discussion about the power of intentionality and collaboration in rural spaces. Having grown up in the small town of Sisters, Oregon, Borla knows that rural communities are often underserved, under-resourced, and underestimated; she also knows their potential. In her work at the Roundhouse Foundation, which is focused on funding and support of the rural and Indigenous spaces of Oregon (with over $55 million in grants given in the last five years), Borla has seen rural communities transform. Drawing on her personal upbringing, her professional work, and her connectivity with rural funders and practitioners around the country, Borla will share stories of progress, rural resiliency, and the role funders and community leaders can play in the vitality of rural spaces. She will also share several approaches to rural giving that can help encourage lasting change.

ERIN BOLA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & TRUSTEE

ROUNDHOUSE FOUNDATION

Erin Borla (she/her) is an Oregonian— born and raised in Central Oregon and the granddaughter of Oregon’s own tough mother, Gert Boyle of Columbia Sportswear. For over 20 years, she has worked with and for nonprofit organizations that support rural communities with innovative economic strategies. Her dedication to supporting rural spaces through listening, collaborating and open and honest sharing of ideas helps her elevate community partners throughout her work.

Borla holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural sciences from Oregon State University and a master of tourism administration degree from The George Washington University. She completed her professional certificate in Tribal relations from Portland State University’s Mark O. Hatfield School of Government in 2022 and was a Fellow for the National Center for Family Philanthropy.  Borla is the host of Funding Rural, a podcast about how philanthropy can better serve rural communities and spark systemic change.

Currently, Borla serves as an advisor for Center for Disaster Philanthropy, a member of the Future Council for the Society for Environmental Journalists, a member of the advisory board for the Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program managed through the Criminal Justice Commission of the State of Oregon and an advisory member of the Comprehensive Suicide Prevention program managed by the Oregon Health Authority.  Throughout the past, she has served organizations such as OSU-Cascades, Sisters Park & Recreation District, Central Oregon Regional Solutions Committee, Oregon 4-H Foundation, OSU Extension Service in Deschutes County and others. She has been a trustee for the Roundhouse Foundation of Sisters, Oregon since 2014 and stepped in as the organization's first executive director in early 2020 at a time of rapid growth for the Foundation. 

The Roundhouse Foundation, founded by Borla’s mother, artist Kathy Deggendorfer, supports creative solutions across rural communities in Oregon including federally recognized Tribes and historic bands of Native communities that originally called this region home. The Foundation funds at the intersection of their four programmatic areas: arts and culture, environmental stewardship, education and social services. 

When she isn’t road-tripping with her family, Erin enjoys spending time cheering on her teenagers, hiking with her dog, Sherman, knitting hats for friends and family and enjoying the best new young-adult novel. 

agenda

Audience & registration

We welcome any Funder who invests in Missouri to register for the Rural Philanthropy Summit, whether you are currently funding in rural Missouri or are interested in learning more. We also welcome Rural Partners, such as community action agencies, regional planning commissions, governmental agencies, chambers of commerce, community partnerships, regional associations, academic institutions, and other infrastructure organizations. We kindly request that other types of nonprofit direct service organizations not register for this event. If you have a question about your eligibility, please contact info@philmo.org.

important links

Frequently Asked Questions

The Lodge of Four Seasons Golf Resort-Spa