FAQs

We engage with communities in this way when their mission aligns with ours. Feel free to reach out, and we can discuss how we might collaborate further.

This is how things will generally go, whether it be program evaluation, applied research, or technical assistance:

1. Discovery
   We want to hear your story–what you’re doing, why you’re doing it, and what you need to make it happen. Wherever you’re at in the process, we’re open to discussing possibilities.

2. Plan
   We examine where you are and where you want to be. Together, we create a comprehensive plan to help you achieve your vision. We will speak with as many members of your team as necessary to fully understand your goals and challenges.

3. Action
   With your needs in mind, we help you put the plan into action. Throughout our work together, we continually assess to ensure deliverables are on track and results align with your goals. If needed, we revise our approach to better meet your objectives.

4. Reflection and Growth
   After implementing the plan and achieving your goals, we take time to reflect on the outcomes and the process. Together, we identify lessons learned and opportunities for further growth. This step ensures continuous improvement and long-term success for your organization.

5. Follow Up
   Even after a project concludes, we remain available to provide continued support. We get to know our clients well and consider them as friends, so you can count on us to keep in touch!

We value transparency and know that it’s frustrating when you can’t figure out how much something costs. Our services are specialized and tailored to meet your organization’s needs, and cost depends on a host of variables. The cost of a program evaluation depends on several factors, but a good gauge is to estimate 10-20% of the total program costs. We also follow the Grant Professionals Association Code of Ethics and will not write grants based on commission (flat-rate fee or percentage paid for services rendered when a grant is awarded). 

As a general rule, our pricing is project-based, not hourly. Schedule a free discovery call to discuss your needs, budget, and how we might work together.

Rural Pathways is proud to be a certified women-owned small business (WOSB) by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Our bios are here. Please email us if you’d like copies of our CVs.

Additionally, we’ve created a capability statement that summarizes Rural Pathways’ services and highlights our areas of expertise.

Our focus is on communities in rural Minnesota because that is what we know best. However, if you believe our unique approach and insights can meet your organization's needs, please contact us. We can discuss your specific needs and determine if we’re a good fit for your organization. Additionally, we have affiliates located across the United States that may be familiar with your rural area who can work with you.

Understanding what "rural" means can be challenging because various organizations use different definitions. Even the federal government has over 20 ways to define rural, which complicates funding education innovation in these areas. At Rural Pathways, we simplify this by sticking to a clear definition to ensure our work reaches the communities that need it most:

• Nonmetro Counties: These are areas with communities that generally have fewer than 50,000 people and are not close to big cities.

• Isolated Communities in Metro Counties: These are parts of metro areas that are far from the larger city, often scoring 4 or higher on the USDA’s Rural Urban Commuting Area (RUCA) codes.

These communities are often the hardest hit by the economic gap between rural America and the rest of the country. While other areas have recovered from the Great Recession, many rural communities still struggle with fewer jobs than before.

Rural Pathways uses this definition to guide our work, from choosing partners and companies to investing in and hiring people.

To see if your community fits this definition, you can look it up here.

Capacity building and technical assistance are related concepts, but they serve distinct purposes and have different focuses in organizational or community development.

Capacity building is a long-term, holistic process aimed at strengthening the overall abilities, skills, systems, and resources of an organization, group, or community to achieve its goals sustainably.

Technical assistance is a targeted, short-term intervention that provides specific expertise, guidance, or tools to address an immediate need or challenge.

Both can work together, with technical assistance often serving as part of capacity-building efforts

We know you might be used to sending emails asking for assistance and never hearing back or, if you do, it is weeks later. If you send us an email, we guarantee someone will respond to you within 48 hours. 

We generally will not write just one grant for a client. We believe strongly in building relationships with our clients and, chances are, you don’t need just one grant.