Managing Information with Rural America (MIRA) was a grantmaking initiative of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation's Food Systems/Rural Development program area launched in 1997 and concluded in 2001. It sought to draw upon the reservoirs of strength, tenacity, and civic commitment in rural communities and to help rural people use technology (electronic communications and information systems) as a tool to meet current and future challenges. People first, with technology serving communities second.

MIRA funding was divided into three categories: Clusters of Community Teams, Community Support Organizations and Policy Support Organizations.

Clusters of Community Teams (CCTs)
This category supported geographically based community teams organized to build electronic communications and information systems (technology) that will enhance community development activities. It is a citizen/community resident driven activity. Each cluster was comprised of six to ten community teams. The fiscal agent for each cluster managed a series of workshops and provided awards of up to $15,000 to eligible community teams for projects with technology themes.

Community Support Organizations (CSOs)
This grant category involved community-based organizations located in the geographic regions of the selected CCTs. CSOs support rural communities directly through social services, leadership development, civic participation activities, or developing and capitalizing on economic opportunities such as workforce development, micro-enterprise development, and access to capital. Applicant organizations must have emphasized how they will use technology to improve their services to communities and further community economic development efforts.

Policy Support Organizations (PSOs)
These were organizations which informed and educated rural communities about rural policy.

The MIRA grants functioned in reverse of typical grants in that the Kellogg Foundation required a series of 6 daylong workshops, one-per month, to be completed before it accepted grant proposals from the individual teams. The Kellogg Foundation, with help from the Heartland Center for Leadership Development established a listing of workshop themes and potential presenters for the various themes. Each workshop had two presentations, and a demonstration of current technology. Topics for workshops included:
Living with Change
Asset Mapping
Asset Mapping Applied
Human and Electronic Networks
Policy Education
Participatory Decision-Making
Project Planning and Implementation
Evaluation
Building Coalitions
Managing Conflict
Funding Community Projects & Organizations
Helping People Work Together
Maintaining momentum
Managing Technology
Technology as a Tool for Development

The cluster could determine the workshops and the presenters from the provided listing. The demonstration on current technology and its presenter was determined by the steering committee, which was comprised of one member from each of the teams. This committee also coordinated the workshops. The Kellogg Foundation funded the entire cost of the workshops including, the presenter's stipend, rent for the venue, and a luncheon. Team members time and travel cost were not reimbursed. The teams were required to meet several criteria before becoming eligible to submit a grant for consideration. These criteria included:
Teams of 10 members with 5 alternates
Attendance of at least 10 members to each of the workshops

We invite you to learn about the work of MIRA by clicking on any of the topics on the left.