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You Make THE Difference Foundation
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Rural United States & Canada

A stronger rural future starts with people.

We equip local people with the knowledge, tools, and relationships to strengthen rural communities under 20,000 people across the United States and Canada.

Explore our work

You Make THE Difference Foundation
A nonprofit community benefit organization

Across the United States & Canada

Local leaders are strengthening rural communities on both sides of the border.

The Foundation advances its mission through our core initiatives, equipping local leaders and strengthening rural communities. Explore the states and provinces where these initiatives have delivered grant-supported projects or are currently active.

You Make THE Difference Foundation across the United States and CanadaEach state, province, and territory has its own vector path. Light green identifies active initiative locations; white identifies locations with no current activity shown. Foundation logos identify locations. Explore a highlighted region or use the location selector for initiative links. Hawaii is repositioned as an inset. Alberta: YMTD Initiative, Empowering MindsBritish Columbia: YMTD InitiativeManitoba: YMTD Initiative, Empowering MindsNew Brunswick: You Make THE Difference FoundationNewfoundland and Labrador: no initiative location shownNova Scotia: no initiative location shownNorthwest Territories: no initiative location shownNunavut: no initiative location shownOntario: YMTD InitiativePrince Edward Island: no initiative location shownQuebec: no initiative location shownSaskatchewan: YMTD Initiative, Empowering MindsYukon: no initiative location shownAlaska: no initiative location shownAlabama: no initiative location shownArkansas: no initiative location shownArizona: no initiative location shownCalifornia: no initiative location shownColorado: no initiative location shownConnecticut: no initiative location shownDistrict of Columbia: no initiative location shownDelaware: no initiative location shownFlorida: YMTD InitiativeGeorgia: YMTD InitiativeHawaii: no initiative location shownIowa: YMTD InitiativeIdaho: no initiative location shownIllinois: YMTD InitiativeIndiana: YMTD InitiativeKansas: Empowering MindsKentucky: YMTD Initiative, Empowering MindsLouisiana: no initiative location shownMassachusetts: no initiative location shownMaryland: no initiative location shownMaine: YMTD InitiativeMichigan: YMTD Initiative, Empowering Minds, Rural InstituteMinnesota: YMTD InitiativeMissouri: YMTD InitiativeMississippi: no initiative location shownMontana: no initiative location shownNorth Carolina: no initiative location shownNorth Dakota: YMTD Initiative, Empowering MindsNebraska: no initiative location shownNew Hampshire: YMTD InitiativeNew Jersey: no initiative location shownNew Mexico: no initiative location shownNevada: no initiative location shownNew York: no initiative location shownOhio: YMTD InitiativeOklahoma: YMTD Initiative, Empowering MindsOregon: no initiative location shownPennsylvania: no initiative location shownRhode Island: no initiative location shownSouth Carolina: YMTD InitiativeSouth Dakota: YMTD InitiativeTennessee: no initiative location shownTexas: Empowering MindsUtah: no initiative location shownVirginia: no initiative location shownVermont: YMTD InitiativeWashington: YMTD InitiativeWisconsin: YMTD InitiativeWest Virginia: YMTD InitiativeWyoming: YMTD Initiative

Hover over or tap a highlighted region for initiative links, or use the location list. With a keyboard, press Enter on a region to explore its links. Enlarge to explore smaller states.

Active locationsNo current activity shown
Visit You Make THE Difference Canada ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Markers identify initiative locations; the type and level of activity varies by state and province. Highlighting does not imply identical programming, grant availability, participation, or outcomes.

View all locations

YMTD Initiative: Alberta, British Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Manitoba, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Saskatchewan, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

Empowering Minds: Alberta, Kansas, Kentucky, Manitoba, Michigan, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Saskatchewan, Texas.

Rural Institute: Michigan.

Foundation: New Brunswick.

Map adapted from Lokal Profil’s public domain U.S. and Canada map.

One Foundation · Six connected areas of work

Find your place in the work.

Find the program that fits your community. Each strengthens a different part of rural life.

MENTAL WELLBEING

Empowering Minds

Empowering Minds

Connection, resilience, and earlier support for people across rural communities.

Explore Empowering Minds

FAIRS & AG SOCIETIES

YMTD Initiative. Fairs and Ag Societies. An initiative of You Make THE Difference Foundation.

YMTD Initiative

Equipping fair boards, agricultural societies, and volunteers to lead strong community institutions.

Explore the YMTD Initiative

RESEARCH & INNOVATION

Rural Institute. Research into action. Ideas emerging from rural communities. An initiative of You Make THE Difference Foundation.

Rural Institute

Connecting research and local knowledge to turn promising rural ideas into practical action.

Explore the Rural Institute

COMING SOON · EDUCATION

Building the Citizen of Tomorrow. Programs for educators, administrators, students, and parents. An initiative of You Make THE Difference Foundation.

Building the Citizen of Tomorrow

Programs for educators, administrators, students, and parents, strengthening the whole school community.

Coming Soon

COMING SOON · BUSINESS

People Build Prosperity. Leadership, culture, and workforce. An initiative of You Make THE Difference Foundation.

People Build Prosperity

Developing leaders, strengthening workplace culture, and supporting the people who power local economies.

Coming Soon

COMING SOON · GOVERNMENT

Public Service, Lasting Impact. Municipal leaders, employees, and elected officials. An initiative of You Make THE Difference Foundation.

Public Service, Lasting Impact

Supporting municipal leaders, employees, and elected officials in serving their communities.

Coming Soon

A renewed sense of purpose.

PURPOSE AND SERVICE

“Ian reignited a light in me that I truly needed.”

MaKayla Barnes

RENEWED PURPOSE

“I found our purpose again! Time well spent.”

Marie Layman

What People Are Saying

LOCAL PEOPLE. SHARED PURPOSE.

The People Making THE Difference

Meet the people at the heart of the YMTD Initiative and Empowering Minds, coming together to learn, connect, and strengthen their communities.

Use the arrows or swipe. Select a photo to enlarge it.