Heron champions the people who believe profoundly in the promise of their community and dare to chase their shared dreams for the place they call home. We work directly with local organizations that are embedded in, deeply trusted by, and inherently driven by the voice and vision of their neighbors. We invest in their know-how, skills, and determination to build a community that reflects and honors the dignity of all and where prosperity is shared. Heron does not operate as a traditional “funder.” Heron partners with communities to source relevant and actionable research, nurture a learning collaborative of peers, help communities reclaim their narrative of place and self, foster stronger collective agency and social bonds, and provide long-term financial support. We aspire to be, first and foremost, an organization that nurtures a network of local people advancing their communities and achieving the transformation they seek. Heron works mainly in rural communities experiencing persistent poverty, systemic challenges, historic disinvestment, and a legacy of disenfranchisement. We also believe that this model is applicable across all geographic regions, all socio-economic classes, and in urban, rural, and exurban communities alike.

Heron

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