Social impact
Investing in people across rural America
Where cooperative values drive rural impact
Our cooperative mission at work in rural communities
Social impact at CoBank is grounded in our cooperative values and our commitment to programs that support rural communities. Together with our customers, employees and board members, we provide significant support for our communities, both financially and with our time. Even the smallest contributions can have long-lasting and meaningful impact on the rural communities we serve. Working together, we strive to strengthen our rural communities and ensure their vitality for generations to come.
A more secure food future
CoBank serves rural communities by supporting programs that advance food and agricultural literacy, education and safety. Our work helps communities build resilient food systems by connecting farmers, providing healthy school meals and supplying weekend food for students in need. We enable organizations that keep food bank shelves stocked, replace refrigeration equipment for donated food, deliver meals to senior citizens and veterans, and support school and community gardens.
Connecting rural communities to opportunity
Rural communities are essential to the prosperity of the entire nation as resource-rich regions supporting critical industries. Yet many face gaps in infrastructure and economic opportunity, including limited capital investment, food access, healthcare, transportation and broadband. Despite these challenges, rural communities consistently demonstrate resilience and develop lasting solutions for shared prosperity. Through CoBank’s rural infrastructure and economic development giving, we support the leaders, organizations and cooperatives advancing innovative approaches to strengthen rural communities.
Helping cooperatives launch, grow and succeed
CoBank supports a wide array of cooperative organizations that advance education, advocacy, technical assistance and business development in rural America. Cooperatives are a vital part of the U.S. economy, especially in rural America, where they help create economic opportunity and build stronger, more resilient communities. We support cooperatives that prioritize mission-driven, community-developed solutions that meet local needs. Owned and controlled by their members, cooperatives are part of the fabric of rural life, and CoBank is proud to support initiatives that advance cooperatives.
Strengthening rural resilience before and after disasters
When disasters strike, CoBank actively collaborates with customers and other partners to support relief efforts for people and businesses. We contribute to national organizations to help provide food, shelter and other emergency needs in the days or weeks following a disaster. We also work with our customers to identify the smaller, community-based organizations that are a lifeline as a source of both immediate assistance and long-term aid to help rural communities recover and rebuild.
How we engage with rural America
Sharing Success
Sharing Success is CoBank's signature program that doubles the impact of our customer-owners by matching their charitable contributions. Since 2012, CoBank and our customers have jointly contributed millions of dollars under the Sharing Success program. The program is built on trusting relationships among CoBank, our customers and their communities, centering on rural community-led impact. Contributions include support for community food banks, playgrounds, local 4-H and FFA Chapters, disaster warning systems and municipal projects, just to name a few.
How we engage with rural America
Sharing Success
Sharing Success is CoBank's signature program that doubles the impact of our customer-owners by matching their charitable contributions. Since 2012, CoBank and our customers have jointly contributed millions of dollars under the Sharing Success program. The program is built on trusting relationships among CoBank, our customers and their communities, centering on rural community-led impact. Contributions include support for community food banks, playgrounds, local 4-H and FFA Chapters, disaster warning systems and municipal projects, just to name a few.
Rural Prosperity Grant program
Through this program, CoBank provides grants to nonprofit organizations that serve as rural economic development hubs in their regions, focusing on programs including economic development, entrepreneurship, food systems, education, healthcare and civic leadership. Structured as unrestricted funding, the grants allow recipients to direct resources where they are most needed to grow their programs and increase community impact.
Co-op Start
Like other small businesses, the first years of a new cooperative are often the most challenging. In 2019, CoBank adapted the Co-op Start program to provide grants to emerging co-ops. These grants seek to reduce or remove one of the most significant barriers to cooperative growth, particularly in capital-intensive industries like agriculture. Co-op Start supports agriculture and food supply chain businesses, funding a variety of activities, including governance training, construction or marketing.
Associate-directed giving
CoBank associates direct a $500 contribution annually to the charity of their choice. The program supports thousands of charitable and civic organizations, reflecting the wide array of interests and priorities of CoBank associates.
Associate volunteerism and community engagement
We encourages associates to contribute their time and expertise by offering an annual paid volunteer day. Associates can volunteer individually with organizations that are personally meaningful to them or participate in group volunteer activities in their community all across the country.
Associate resource group-directed giving
Our associate resource groups allow associates to connect based on common interests, identities and goals. Each year, the bank empowers each group to direct charitable contributions to causes and organizations that support their group objectives while aligning with the bank’s mission.
Board-directed giving
CoBank’s board of directors plays an important role in the bank’s efforts to deepen its commitment to the communities it serves. Each year, board members designate $25,000 in contributions to nonprofit organizations that are consistent with the bank’s business and charitable philosophies.
Special contributions
Each year, CoBank considers special, one-time contributions as a result of requests from customers and other stakeholders or in response to external events.
Rural equity investments
We support rural community development by acting as a dependable source of credit for our customers and the vital industries they serve. We also support the rural economy by investing in private market funds that provide vital junior capital to rural based businesses. This capital stimulates growth, creates job opportunities, and enhances the rural economic base. We make these investments in partnership with our customers, other investors, fellow Farm Credit institutions, and commercial and community banks. The funds to which we have made commitments are linked below, and collectively those funds total more than $2 billion of capital focused primarily on financing agribusiness, rural-based companies or agricultural technology startups.
Respect and inclusion
Our associates are the driving force behind our mission to serve the agriculture industry and rural America. Our commitment to them begins at the time of hiring but extends throughout their time at CoBank. We invest in their ongoing growth and foster a culture grounded in respect, inclusion and belonging. Through mentorship, career path advising, training and experiential learning, we empower associates to thrive throughout their careers. We celebrate the authenticity each individual brings to our organization, and we create an environment where everyone is valued, inspired and equipped to succeed.
Growing Rural America
Explore the full scope of our social and sustainability work, priorities and progress.
Social impact news
CoBank announces $250,000 contribution to NRECA International
CoBank contributed $250,000 to NRECA International’s rural electrification projects, supporting sustainable power access and cooperative development in developing countries.
CHS Foundation and CoBank partner to donate $2 million to Feeding America amid rising needs at rural food banks
As food insecurity continues to rise across the United States, the CHS Foundation and CoBank are joining forces to support Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization, with a combined $2 million donation. The CHS Foundation and CoBank will each contribute $1 million to help food banks meet growing demand for food, with a focus on rural communities.
CoBank launches grant program focused on rural prosperity
CoBank launches a $1.5 million pilot program supporting rural economic development, funding nonprofits driving growth, entrepreneurship, and community vitality.