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 works through the YMTD Initiative, Empowering Minds, and the Rural Institute to equip local leaders and strengthen rural communities. Explore the states and provinces where these initiatives have documented grant supported work or active programming.

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 documented 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 documented 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 documented 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 National Initiative logo: people supporting a rural community.

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

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.

Explore education programs

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.

Explore business programs

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.

Explore public service programs

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

From our communities

People making THE Difference.

“He gave us all a ton of knowledge that we can and will work with.”
Tommy MatthewsYMTD Initiative · Participant feedback
“Our community has so many great leaders who care. Ian’s message ignited purpose and passion in all of us.”
Dana LynnEmpowering Minds · Bonnyville, Alberta
“Great information, productive conversations and a new and refreshing perspective on the future of Ag Societies in our province. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and tools with our team.”
Lindsay SlettenYMTD Initiative · Swift Current, Saskatchewan
“Very good advice. A must see for sure. Great for teens and adults.”
Emile RobertEmpowering Minds · Bonnyville, Alberta
“Ian is a very well informed and passionate speaker! He shared with us relevant and actionable information that can be applied to any organization, business or individual looking to be better and do better for their community.”
Donna DaweYMTD Initiative · The Pas, Manitoba
“Excellent presentation, very important message for all to get back to looking out for our community”
Dave KufeldtEmpowering Minds · Bonnyville, Alberta
“Well worth carving out the time to attend. Ian Hill delivered a road map to help fairs of all sizes in Maine succeed. Everything he covered was a useful takeaway.”
Sarah PerkinsYMTD Initiative · Maine
“It was a great evening! Community matters”
Jayne OdegardEmpowering Minds · Flagstaff County, Alberta
“Thanks, Ian, for the valuable information on how to grow our fair and connect our communities.”
Jack WagonerYMTD Initiative · Hopkins, Kentucky
“Thank you for such an empowering event Bonnyville Agricultural Society!”
Thia MariaEmpowering Minds · Bonnyville, Alberta
“I left with valuable tools and insight that will help me in my daily work. Thank you!!!”
Kasi HabermanYMTD Initiative · Heartland
“Ian was awesome! A very timely message that everybody can use.”
Phil KushnirEmpowering Minds · Bonnyville, Alberta
“What an energizing evening with Ian Hill! His message, ‘You Make the Difference,’ reminded us that thriving communities are built by people who step forward, lend a hand and work together.”
Jim BerscheidYMTD Initiative · The Pas, Manitoba
“Ian's message is very important. He is a powerful speaker, thank you Bonnyville AG society for putting on this event!”
Shayna ProcinskiEmpowering Minds · Bonnyville, Alberta
“Great seminar with ideas to help with attendance, volunteers and keeping fairs going for the future!!”
Beth LeavittYMTD Initiative · Maine
“Big thanks for the free event and for shining a light on mental health love seeing the stigma being broken and real conversations happening!”
Amanda ShidelerEmpowering Minds · Bonnyville, Alberta
“We learned new approaches to reaching out to the community and growing the fair base. All this wonderful advice comes with 30 more days of tips, tricks, guidance and training, too. It was rejuvenating and totally worth the trip and time.”
Sioux Empire Fair Arts CenterYMTD Initiative · Sioux Empire
“Thank you to the Bonnyville Ag society for investing the time and energy into hosting such an impactful speaker”
Tiffany DettwilerEmpowering Minds · Bonnyville, Alberta
“Fantastic presentation. Motivation and the tools to move forward and make a difference in your COMMUNITY!”
Grant ScheirlinckYMTD Initiative · Swift Current, Saskatchewan
“Ian Hill's passion is contagious!”
Sandy Lynn DayEmpowering Minds · Bonnyville, Alberta
“We learned about the importance of buy in and to reflect on how people want to feel when they interact with our fair...because today's fairgoers want experiences.”
Junia Seamans NorrisYMTD Initiative · Maine
“Thanks to the Ag society and Ian Hill for last night's Empowering Minds presentation”
Byron JohnsonEmpowering Minds · Bonnyville, Alberta
“I’m excited to get started on sharing our impact, not just our event!”
Jayme PharisYMTD Initiative · Hopkins, Kentucky
“Thanks for putting this on. And I will be bringing more people next time!”
Candice TaylorEmpowering Minds · Bonnyville, Alberta
“Ian Hill is a dedicated dynamic speaker that brings passion and knowledge to anyone who attends his presentations. I was honored to have been in attendance.”
Tim DeLucaYMTD Initiative · Participant feedback
“It was an incredible experience, truly amazing!”
Sandra SmithEmpowering Minds · Bonnyville, Alberta
“This was an amazing night. Ian is so full of knowledge in regards to agriculture boards. He was engaging and pulled powerful feedback from everyone participating in the room.”
Angela Goddard-SchultzYMTD Initiative · Swift Current, Saskatchewan
“Thank you Bonnyville Ag Society for bringing Ian Hill to spread awareness and break the stigma on Mental Health!”
Billie LaneyEmpowering Minds · Bonnyville, Alberta
“Ian Hill, Thank you for your practical and heartfelt sharing of how to build the spirit of community!! And a huge thank you to fairs.com for sponsoring this mission.”
Barb Hunt MauraisYMTD Initiative · Participant feedback
“You guys did a great job with the event!”
Sharon C. RobertEmpowering Minds · Bonnyville, Alberta
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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.

Stories from our initiatives

People Making the Difference

Local people. Practical support. Stories from the work.

Featured story · YMTD Initiative · Fairs & Ag Societies

Explore all stories