The Challenge to Address
Postsecondary education has never been a greater differentiator in a student’s future success and livelihood. This reality has profound implications for rural communities and small towns, where less than 30 percent of adults hold a bachelor’s or associate’s degree. Changing the odds for rural students isn’t just a moral imperative, it’s an economic necessity.
32% of U.S. high school students live in rural communities and small towns
Only 34% of rural young adults aged 18-24 are currently enrolled in a postsecondary program
80% of jobs that pay middle class wages require some postsecondary education and training
Less than 5% of philanthropic dollars go to the needs of rural communities
Overview
rootEd Alliance launched in 2018 to address the most challenging obstacles to success after high school for students in rural America.
rootEd Alliance partners with local and national organizations working to meaningfully improve postsecondary and career outcomes with advice, exposure and access to financial resources, so that all students in rural areas and towns can pursue their dreams. Together, these organizations form a holistic model that supports students starting in high school through college and beyond.
Mission
The mission of rootEd Alliance is to clear a path to a stronger future for students in rural America. A collaborative philanthropic effort, rootEd Alliance grew out of a collective belief in the power of education to change lives and an understanding of the unique needs of rural America.

Media
How to raise rural enrollment in higher education? Go local
Featured on Washington Post, Hechinger Report (December 4, 2020)
Helping Rural Students Head to College in Uncertain Times
Featured on Aspen Institute (May 14, 2020)
Through grant, OTC offers proactive advising to rural high school students
Featured on Springfield News-Leader (February 3, 2020)
OTC embeds advisors to help rural students attend college
Featured on Ozarks Technical Community College (February 4, 2020)
New Bill Proposes Federal Grant Program for Rural Postsecondary and Economic Development
Featured on Business Wire (January 8, 2020)
“Special”: Reflections of a high school senior from rural Missouri
Featured on Medium (September 27, 2019)
Clearing the Path to Success for America’s Rural Students: Meet rootEd Alliance
Featured on Medium (September 27, 2019)
High school student selected for Emerging Rural Leaders Program at UChicago
Featured on Bangor Daily News (August 21, 2019)
Program aims to jumpstart student opportunities
Featured on The Southeast Missourian (July 25, 2019)
Most of the Union Class of ’19 is college-bound, thanks to a native son
Featured on The St. Louis Post-Dispatch (April 26, 2019)
Decision Day Celebration at Union High School
Featured on The Missourian (April 26, 2019)
Partnerships
rootEd Alliance Members
rootEd Alliance brings together high-impact organizations and educational institutions to support rural students of all academic levels and interests as they pursue and complete postsecondary education. Across the Alliance, students are provided with dedicated support, tools and resources as they chart their pathways to stronger economic futures.


Alliance Supporters
rootEd Alliance is made possible by a group of family business owners and individuals, including the Trott Family Foundation, Steward Family Foundation, Emily Rauh Pulitzer, Barbara and Andy Taylor and the William T. Kemper Foundation, among others, who recognize the urgent need to shine a light on the unique obstacles facing rural students as they chart their paths after high school. This collaborative effort was borne out of BDT & Company’s commitment to building impactful social projects that bring donors together around big ideas that are underresourced and overlooked by the philanthropic sector, with great need and great potential for impact.
