As a mission-based cooperative lender and member of the Farm Credit System, CoBank is committed to serving as a good corporate citizen. The bank maintains a variety of corporate social responsibility programs primarily focused on rural America and the vitality of rural communities and industries.
We deliver vital support for the U.S. rural economy, providing financial services to agribusinesses and rural power, water and communications providers in all 50 states. It's who we are and what we believe in. Join us.
CoBank launches grant program focused on rural prosperity - CoBank Site
CoBank launches grant program focused on rural prosperity
DENVER (July 14, 2025) – CoBank, a cooperative bank serving agribusinesses, rural infrastructure providers and Farm Credit associations throughout the United States, announced today that it has launched a new pilot program focused on promoting prosperity and economic development in the nation’s rural areas.
The bank has allocated $1.5 million in 2025 to fund grants to nonprofit organizations around the country that serve as development hubs in their local areas and regions. The initial group of grant recipients serves a total of 23 states and focuses on a wide range of rural programs, including economic development, entrepreneurship, food systems, education, health care and civic leadership.
“CoBank is excited to be introducing this program as part of our broader portfolio of charitable activities focused on rural America,” said Tom Halverson, CoBank’s chief executive officer. “The U.S. rural economy is highly dynamic, with new challenges and opportunities emerging every day. We believe there is an opportunity for CoBank to contribute to the well-being of rural America by supporting innovative nonprofit organizations with strong track records of success driving growth and vibrancy in their communities.”
The initial grant recipients for the program are:
Communities Unlimited
Kansas Health Foundation
Local First Arizona
Region 5 Development Commission
Rural Community Assistance Corp.
Rural Development Initiatives
Main Street Skowhegan
Southwest Initiative Foundation
“A common attribute of all our initial grantees is that they are all serving as Rural Development Hubs in their regions and advancing an asset-based approach to community and economic development,” said Leslie Hagele, CoBank’s vice president of corporate social responsibility. “We look forward to supporting this community-led work and finding effective ways to share results and findings across our network of rural philanthropic partners.”
CoBank worked with the Community Strategies Group, a program of the Aspen Institute (Aspen CSG) to design and implement the new pilot program. Aspen CSG has over 40 years of experience in the area of rural economic development.
About CoBank
CoBank is a cooperative bank serving vital industries across rural America. The bank provides loans, leases, export financing and other financial services to agribusinesses and rural power, water and communications providers in all 50 states. The bank also provides wholesale loans and other financial services to affiliated Farm Credit associations serving more than 78,000 farmers, ranchers and other rural borrowers in 23 states around the country. CoBank is a member of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of banks and retail lending associations chartered to support the borrowing needs of U.S. agriculture, rural infrastructure and rural communities. Headquartered outside Denver, Colorado, CoBank serves customers from regional banking centers across the U.S. and also maintains an international representative office in Singapore.
