Southern Rural Development Initiative

SRDI was founded in 1994 by rural and community-based stakeholders, led in part by Funders Who Fund in the South, an affinity group of the National Network of Grantmakers (NNG). In its first decade, it developed partnerships with six historically black colleges; helped establish statewide CDC associations in Louisiana, Arkansas, and South Carolina; and supported nine community-based organizations that focused on youth leadership and development. In 2008, the Southern Rural Development Initiative announced a more focused, intentional, streamlined long-term strategy for community asset development.