The gathering focused on accelerating entrepreneurship and strengthening community capacity in Central Appalachia. Participants visited local communities to learn about opportunities and challenges from entrepreneurs and leaders. Key priorities identified were building a culture of entrepreneurship, particularly among youth, and providing supports like education, infrastructure, and mentorship for entrepreneurs and businesses. Strengthening community capacity also focused on developing broad local leadership and making strategic, long-term investments. The gathering aimed to develop shared priorities and next steps for funders and practitioners to collaboratively advance economic transition in the region.

1. Accelerating the Economic Transition
of Central Appalachia
Promising
Sectors.
Entrepreneurial
Supports.
Community
Capacity.
The Appalachia Funders Network
3rd Annual Gathering
Berea, Kentucky
March 28 and 29, 2012

2. Executive Summary
In March 2012, 84 people representing 56
Appalachia’s Economic Transition
organizations came together at the 3rd Annual
Gathering of the Appalachia Funders Network For decades, Appalachia has struggled to
in Berea, Kentucky. Participants included overcome some of the highest rates of
grantmakers, development practitioners, young poverty, unemployment, and chronic health
problems in the nation, despite our
leaders, and local entrepreneurs. The goal of the
abundant natural resources, strong cultural
gathering was to develop a set of common heritage, and entrepreneurial spirit. We
priorities and actions related to two topics: (1) envision a sustainable regional economy
accelerating the startup and growth of that builds on these assets to create multiple
entrepreneurs, and (2) strengthening the forms of wealth and promote opportunity
capacity of local communities to successfully and equity for all Appalachian individuals,
families, and communities.
develop, implement, and sustain economic
development strategies.
The gathering began with an evening of Appalachian culture. We spent an evening reconnecting and
enjoying local Appalachian music, dance, poetry, and storytelling.
The next morning we began with a welcome from Sandra Mikush, Chair of the Appalachia Funders
Network. Sandra shared a video that the Network developed, which set the stage for our work together. We
spent the rest of the morning in three site visits, where we talked with local entrepreneurs, practitioners, and
young leaders about the opportunities and challenges they face as they work to improve local economies.
We reconvened for two presentations at lunch. Both speakers challenged us to use our best assets, our
people, to strengthen local economies. In the afternoon, we held two panel conversations, one on how to
support rural entrepreneurs and one on how to build community capacity.
During our second day, we worked in small groups to develop priorities for growing entrepreneurship and
strengthening community capacity. We closed by developing plans for next steps, both as individual
organizations and as a network.
As grantmakers, we recognize that we cannot make
change on our own. It is, after all, local people who will
drive the economic transition that we hope to see in our
region. At this gathering, we developed some concrete
ideas about how funders can work with local people to
create an economy where people and communities
become more prosperous while protecting the
landscapes upon which Appalachian culture and society
depend.

3. Contents
Context for the 2012 Gathering……………………………………………………………... 1
Opening Session and Welcome: Accelerating the Economic Transition……........... 2
Local Site Visits: Estill County, Rockcastle County, Next Generation Leaders........... 3
Keynote Presentations: The Role of Entrepreneurship in Economic Transition.......... 4
Panel Discussions: Supporting Entrepreneurship, Building Community Capacity…. 5
Setting Priorities: Supporting Entrepreneurship, Building Community Capacity........ 6
Defining Next Steps: For Individual Grantmakers For the Network….......................... 8
Moving Forward: Two Network Initiatives………………………………………………….. 10
Closing Reflections……………………………………………………………………………... 11
Participating Funders………………………………………………………………………….. 12
Participating Practitioners…………………………………………………………………….. 13
Pre-Conference Cultural Exchange Speakers and Performers……………………….. 14
Gathering Sponsors……………………………………………………………………………. 15
About the Appalachia Funders Networks………………………………………………… 16

4. Context for the 2012 Gathering
Appalachia Funders Network
The Appalachia Funders Network is a group of public and private grantmakers who envision an
entrepreneurial-based Appalachian economy that provides opportunity for all, while sustaining the
environmental and cultural assets of our region. Our work is focused in Central Appalachia, the region we
define as the Appalachian counties of Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and North
Carolina. As a network, we offer grantmakers the opportunity to develop a shared analysis and collective
strategies to address the challenges and opportunities that we see across the region.
“At past gatherings, we’ve really
looked at why Appalachia’s
Network Gatherings: Past and Present transition is important. We also
discussed key opportunities, but
The Appalachia Funders Network formed in March 2010. Since now it’s time to make this
then, we have hosted three annual gatherings, each building on happen and work together to
the energy and vision of the previous year’s work and identifying advance this work.”
key areas of common interest and potential collaboration.
- Sandra Mikush, Chair,
Appalachia Funders Network
2010: Appalachia in Transition, Abingdon, VA
• Developed an analysis of the forces that have shaped Appalachia
• Recognized that the region is in another economic transition
• Discussed how we can help move the region towards a more sustainable and equitable economy
• Decided to form and develop the Appalachia Funders Network
2011: Strategies for Collaboration, Charleston, WV
• Developed analyses of opportunities and challenges in the food, energy, and health sectors
• Identified barriers to collaboration among grantmakers interested in the economic transition
• Developed concrete strategies to increase collaboration among grantmakers across Central Appalachia
2012: Accelerating the Economic Transition of Central Appalachia, Berea, KY
• Explored the entrepreneurial supports and community capacity needed to advance the region’s economy
• Created a list of shared priorities for strengthening entrepreneurship and community capacity
• Developed concrete ways that individual grantmakers and the Network can move these priorities
• Celebrated our Appalachian heritage, culture, and arts
This paper seeks to share some of our learning, analysis, priorities, and next steps from this year’s gathering.
Appalachia Funders Network – 2012 Gathering Proceedings 1

5. Opening Session and Welcome
Accelerating the Economic Transition
Sandra Mikush, Chair of the Appalachia Funders Network,
challenged us to use the wisdom of everyone in the room to
think together about how to accelerate Appalachia’s
economic transition. “There are a lot of folks in the room
who bring different skills, perspectives, and ways of
supporting the work, but it is going to take all of us, sharing
what we know and learning what we don’t know, to make
this transition a reality.” She framed the next two days as an
opportunity to “really dig deep” into understanding the
entrepreneurial supports and community capacity that are
needed to make a just and sustainable economic transition a reality.
Sandra then shared a video that offered a short meditation on what we mean by the Appalachian transition,
why it is important, and what it is going to take to move the transition forward. The video opened with a
quote from an Appalachian community development practitioner: “People are the engine that will get this
transition done. Those people most directly impacted by the problems in the region have to be part of the
solution.” The video closed with a quote from a local Appalachian funder: “The greatest gift we have is right
here, right now. If you’re here, you’re the right people. We need to come together as people who want to
live and work and give here, and make this be the community that we need it to be.” These quotes capture
the spirit of why we came together in Berea. Click here to view the video.
This call to action rallied funders and practitioners to use the gathering to think strategically and creatively
about how to align our work and move our vision of Appalachia’s transition forward.
Appalachia Funders Network – 2012 Gathering Proceedings 2

6. Local Site Visits
Learning and Analysis from the Ground Up
To better understand the roles that entrepreneurship and community capacity play in rural development
efforts, we headed to Estill County, Rockcastle County, and the campus of Berea College to talk with local
entrepreneurs, development practitioners, and young leaders. We heard about the opportunities and
challenges they face in working to improve their communities. Below is a brief description of each site visit.
Estill County: Facilitated by Joe Crawford, Estill Development Alliance; Shane Barton,
University of Kentucky Appalachia Center
Gathering participants met with leaders of the Estill County Local Motive Alliance, a new initiative
working to grow the regional economy. We learned how local economic development efforts in Eastern
Kentucky are shifting from business recruitment to strengthening local business networks. We visited two
long-standing local businesses, Ravenna Greenhouse and Florist and Sharon’s Cosmetics, that have a
combined 110 years of experience. Each business owner shared the history of their business, changes
they’ve made to increase revenue and local sourcing, and the support they need to grow their business over
the long term.
Rockcastle County: Facilitated by Corey Craig, Citizens Bank
Participants learned about Rockcastle County’s community-wide strategic planning process and talked to
many partners who helped carry out and develop this plan. The Rural Transit Enterprises Coordinated
(RTEC) provided a trolley tour to view rural community development projects focused on transportation,
health care, and education. At Rockcastle Regional Hospital, we learned about efforts to attract medical
professionals and efforts to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions by installing solar panels. Next we
visited the Rockcastle County Area Technology Center to learn about their focus on teaching advanced
technical skills to area students. Our last stop was at the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame, where we learned
about efforts to promote tourism and serve as an educational center for the community.
The Next Generation of Leaders in Appalachia: Ada Smith, Appalshop; Ethan Hamblin,
Berea College; Elandria Williams, Highlander Center; Sarah Riley, High Rocks
Participants engaged with the region’s next generation of leaders in a dialogue around ways to support,
grow, and include young leaders in Appalachia’s economic transition. We discussed how the development of
young leadership is critical to transforming rural communities. The young people at this site visit had several
ideas for investing in the next generation of leaders in Central Appalachia, including investing in education,
engaging young leaders in philanthropy, placing young leaders in positions of authority in key organizations
(e.g., boards of directors or advisory boards), supporting organizational and leadership development for
young nonprofit leaders, connecting young people with organizations (e.g., fellowships), and addressing the
challenges that continue to hold down young folks across Appalachia (e.g., substance abuse, teen pregnancy,
obesity, underachieving educational systems). Click here to view slides from this session.
Appalachia Funders Network – 2012 Gathering Proceedings 3

7. Keynote Presentations
The Role of Entrepreneurship in Appalachia’s Economic Transition
Earl Gohl, Federal Co-Chair, Appalachian
Regional Commission
Earl Gohl drew attention to the “entrepreneurial spirit” of
Appalachian communities and encouraged us to use our best
assets – our people – to strengthen our economy. Gohl
challenged us to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem (the
infrastructure of supportive policies, mentors, financing,
markets, and so on) across the region to ensure that all
entrepreneurs have access to the supports they need. Click here
to view a video of Earl Gohl’s address to the Network.
Erik Pages, President, EntreWorks Consulting
Erik Pages recommended an entrepreneurial development
strategy in Appalachia that moves from helping
entrepreneurs get started (business incubation) to growing
businesses once they are up and running (business
acceleration). “And this can’t be just about keeping it local,”
he proposed. “You need to think about how to take these
great firms in Appalachia and link them to great growth
opportunities located in Appalachia, across the US, and
across the world.” He suggested that our entrepreneurs (and
our support systems for entrepreneurs) need to be more
ambitious, more global in thinking, and more aggressive about
achieving strong growth. Click here to view slides from Erik Pages' presentation.
Pages’ emphasis on accelerating growth was controversial. Many gathering participants disagreed with his
suggestions; however, the conversation was helpful for the Network to begin to clarify its vision of
Appalachia’s economic transition. As one participant commented, “I hope that we can say not only, ‘What
can we do to promote economic growth?” but also, “How can we do that in a way that fosters just and
sustainable communities?’” As participants reacted to Pages’ suggestions, there seemed to be an emerging
consensus that Appalachia’s economic transition go beyond accelerating growth to developing economies
that foster justice, equity and sustainability. Pages’ presentation helped us realize that we need to more
clearly conceptualize the economic transition that we are working to create, and the Network has made
plans to do this over the next year.
Appalachia Funders Network – 2012 Gathering Proceedings 4

8. Panel Discussions
Supporting Entrepreneurship and Building Community Capacity
Entrepreneurial Supports: Erik Pages, EntreWorks; Corey Craig, Citizens Bank; Regina
Becknell, MACED; Lesa Geiringer, Powdermill Pottery
Panelists referred to Appalachia’s entrepreneurial Supporting Entrepreneurs: What Works?
assets, highlighting its people, geography, community
leaders, and core organizations. They recognized the § Educate on business planning, financing
region’s historical challenges, from limited access to § Focus on young leaders
resources and technology to dependence on § Provide one-on-one mentoring
government assistance and widespread substance § Transition skilled workers to
abuse. To build upon our assets and overcome the entrepreneurship
challenges we face, panelists emphasized the § Strengthen community connections –
importance of working to create a culture of systems, people, and organizations
entrepreneurship in Appalachia that engages and § Promote the benefits of local buying
influences people, organizations, and systems. § Develop a community wide vision/plan
Panelists suggested several key practices for § Foster broad-based leadership
supporting entrepreneurs. Click here to view slides § Create flexible kick starter capital
from a presentation. Click here to view the video. § Help local bankers see themselves as
community financial advisers
Community Capacity: Peter Hille, Brushy Fork Institute; Gerry Roll, Foundation for
Appalachian Kentucky; Natasha Watts, Appalshop; Nikki Martin, Center for Participatory
Change
Community capacity refers to the ability of a
Building Community Capacity: What Works? community to plan, implement, and sustain
economic development efforts. It includes
§ Foster a broad base of local leadership individual, organizational, institutional, and
§ Hire creative, independent young people governmental capacities. Panelists noted that
§ Support locally-rooted practitioners some local areas have a strong sense of
§ Create opportunities for immigrants community, engaged young folks, and
§ Build cross-sector networks organizations working on leadership
§ Make longer term, strategic investments development, project development, community-
§ Help nonprofits to think beyond their work wide planning, and multiple forms of oppression.
§ Do anti-oppression and multi-lingual work They shared ideas about what works well for
§ Focus on assets and strengths building community capacity. Click here to view
§ Collaborate: funders and nonprofits slides from a presentation. Click here to view
the video.
Appalachia Funders Network – 2012 Gathering Proceedings 5

9. Setting Priorities
Priorities: Supporting Entrepreneurship and Building Community Capacity
As part of developing a common analysis of the key levers for advancing the economic transition of Central
Appalachia, gathering participants engaged in a participatory process to identify priorities for accelerating
the startup and growth of entrepreneurship and strengthening community capacity across the region.
Process
Participants worked together in small groups to better
understand how to effectively support entrepreneurs and
build community capacity. We reflected upon what
practitioners see as the “on-the-ground” challenges and
opportunities. We then developed priorities for what we
need to do to support entrepreneurs and strengthen
community capacity. These priorities are summarized
below.
Priorities: Supporting Entrepreneurship
1. Build a culture for entrepreneurship. The first priority for supporting entrepreneurship
focused on working to bring about a cultural shift, a shift in attitude, worldview, or ways of thinking. The
idea is to help create a “can do” attitude, openness to innovation, and a default way of interacting that is
based on collaboration rather than competition. Gathering participants felt that there was particular
opportunity among younger folks, students, and consumers. We thought that student-focused education
efforts and “buy local” campaigns hold promise. In short, building a culture for entrepreneurship means
getting folks in local communities – teachers, students, consumers, entrepreneurs, community-based leaders
– thinking and acting from an entrepreneurial perspective. Only by doing this might we create a community
culture where people dream big and take risks to reach their dreams.
2. Provide supports for entrepreneurs and businesses. The second priority identified by
participants was more concrete and action-oriented than the first. We laid out a menu of education,
assistance, and support for entrepreneurs and existing businesses, which included the following:
• Provide education and technical assistance for small business planning, operations, finances, and
management
• Provide high-quality communications infrastructure for entrepreneurs
• Provide mentorship programs, peer support, and coaching for entrepreneurs at all stages
• Target students, young entrepreneurs, and new entrepreneurs with education and support
• Help entrepreneurs access existing capital, especially in economically distressed communities
• Make sure all the supports above are locally rooted, hands-on, and available for the long haul
Appalachia Funders Network – 2012 Gathering Proceedings 6

10. 3. Engage in community collaboration, systems change, and policy change.
The third priority identified by participants was to create a system of support for entrepreneurs. Here we
laid out a menu of various ways of working that move beyond a particular entrepreneur, business, lender,
nonprofit, foundation, or community:
• Strengthen larger systems that support entrepreneurs (e.g., health care, child care, education)
• Conduct participatory, inclusive assessment and planning efforts to develop cross-sector strategies
• Learn about and build upon local community strengths, opportunities, challenges, and needs
• Assess markets for local entrepreneurs (e.g., local, rural-urban, global)
• Conduct a “leakage analysis” to identify products and services that could be developed locally
• Use data about local opportunities and challenges to create “aha” experiences for decision-makers
• Connect county, state, and regional leadership to local economic development efforts
• Ensure good governance and public sector accountability through public participation
• Address corruption in local systems and institutions; corruption blocks hope and opportunity
• Advocate for policy changes that support local entrepreneurs and create demand for local businesses
Priorities: Building Community Capacity
1. Interact with communities in participatory ways. The first priority for building
community capacity focused on working in ways that begin from community-based and community-owned
ideas, programs, and policy initiatives. The idea here is that low-wealth communities best understand the
challenges they face and can generate the most effective solutions. Engaging communities in participatory
ways means creating safe, neutral, facilitated spaces for reflection, planning, and action - spaces where
community members can build trust and relationships, find common ground, and break the paralysis that
long-standing divides can bring about. It means conducting community-wide assessments that map the
assets of our communities and build community improvement efforts on those assets. It means examining
the root causes of the challenges that communities are facing.
2. Develop a diverse pool of leaders and organizations. The second priority focused on
building a diverse pool of community-based and regional leaders and organizations. We laid out a menu of
strategies for supporting leaders and organizations:
• Support young or emerging leaders who are rooted in local places and committed for the long haul
• Develop leaders who are ready, who have a leadership spark – whoever is here are the right folks
• Support community sparkplugs, people who ignite a fire, who bring people together for change
• Develop broad-based, inclusive community leadership (e.g., diversity in power, varied stakeholders)
• Support local grassroots organizations, groups of people most affected by Appalachia’s problems
• Support regional “anchor organizations” that build capacity and have broad impact
• Provide organizational development support
• Make long-term investments, particularly in anchor organizations
• Provide diverse types of grants (e.g., operating, capacity building) to ensure long-term impact
• Encourage coordinated, strategic efforts among various funders and between funders and grantees
Appalachia Funders Network – 2012 Gathering Proceedings 7

11. Defining Next Steps
Next Steps: For Individual Grantmakers and for the Network
The second day of the Gathering included a grantmakers-only session to assess the top priorities that
developed from the previous day’s work with practitioners.
Process
Participating grantmakers worked in small groups to review lists from the previous day and identify ways
that individual grantmakers and the Network can act on our collective analysis.
Next Steps: Individual Grantmakers
1. Develop assessments, measures, and evaluation tools. When we worked to identify
next steps for individual grantmakers, the first priority we identified was to assess models or approaches to
see what’s working in local communities in terms of supporting entrepreneurship and building community
capacity. Based on what is working, we talked about developing evaluation tools that will provide us with
more information about how our work can have deeper impact. Using these tools would also would give us
a baseline for measuring change over the long haul.
2. Develop long-term investment strategies. Another next step focused on developing
grantmaking strategies that take a long-term view, looking and investing beyond a one-year grant cycle.
Long-term investments lead to more strategic interventions and broader collective impact. We discussed the
idea of investing patiently and investing in stages, as interventions are developed over time. We talked about
investing both to catalyze innovation and support proven and effective approaches.
3. Invest in entrepreneurship support
systems and leadership development.
A third next step related to two particular areas of
potentially fruitful investment: systems of support
for entrepreneurs and leadership development. A
system of support of entrepreneurs would provide
entrepreneurs with the support they need to thrive.
When we talked about investing in the leadership of
young people and supporting leadership
development in organizations that focus on policy
and systems change.
Appalachia Funders Network – 2012 Gathering Proceedings 8

12. Next Steps: Appalachia Funders Network
1. Support regional collaboration and leadership development. Several grantmakers
had ideas about connecting communities across the region to share expertise and lessons learned and engage
in open dialogue and mutual learning. We were particularly drawn to the idea of developing ways of
supporting the next generation of leaders across Appalachia and engaging more young people in
philanthropy.
2. Develop shared evaluation
measures and results. We had some
conversation about the need to develop shared
measurements and a common set of goals or
results. We also talked about the importance of
measuring what really matters. The idea would
be to use these measurement tools to inform
strategies for accelerating the economic
transition and for influencing other grantmakers
by validating and promoting proven strategies.
3. Promote collaboration among funders. We discussed ways to promote collaboration,
including shared strategies, joint funding, co-funding, collaboratively funding regional efforts, and creating a
pool of funds to disburse as a network. Collaboration would allow relatively small funders or nonprofits to
develop successful ideas or approaches that could then be disseminated widely. Great ideas with proven
impact at a relatively local scale could be spread across the region in a strategic, coordinated way.
Collaboration could also result in shared information; we would all “work smarter” and be more confident
about our investments with more information about what works in local communities. Finally, collaboration
among funders can lead to better-informed network strategy, which would make our investments more
effective.
4. Deepen and broaden the Network and its work. We talked about deepening the work of
the Appalachia Funders Network by continuing to convene the Network and its members. This will help to
deepen our understanding of relevant issues; it will also help educate non-members about innovative
funding opportunities in the region. We also talked about broadening the scope of our work together by
exploring the possibility of collaborating with other networks on related economic development activities
and working together to influence policy and systems change related to Appalachia’s economic transition.
5. Develop Network Initiatives. We plan to continue to develop our two existing initiatives, Startup
Appalachia and the Food Systems Working Group. We also plan to develop an action team around the
healthcare sector and to identify intersections among promising sectors (e.g., intersections between local
food systems and healthcare systems).
Appalachia Funders Network – 2012 Gathering Proceedings 9

13. Moving Forward: Network Initiatives
Moving Our Collective Work Forward: Next Steps for Network Initiatives
In our next session, we focused on two initiatives that have momentum and leadership within the
Appalachia Funders Network: Startup Appalachia and the Food Systems Working Group. Each initiative
has a set of committed leaders, interest from a broader array of Network members, and an emerging focus
for its work.
Startup Appalachia
Startup Appalachia is a proposed framework for aligning the
efforts and funding of grantmakers, businesses,
government agencies, and nonprofits to accelerate the
development of promising sectors and development
projects related to the following areas: (1) Food Systems
and Entrepreneurship, (2) Energy and Entrepreneurship,
and (3) Health Care and Entrepreneurship. Members
shared ideas and strategies for moving the work of
Startup Appalachia into action. In this group, we
discussed the potential for this project to leverage diverse
funding and increase the scale of member-driven
projects. Click here to view an overview of Startup
Appalachia.
Next steps include initiating a Startup Appalachia pilot project in collaboration with Network members, the
Appalachian Regional Commission and USDA-Rural Development.
The Food Systems Working Group
Participants in this group began crafting a vision for how the Network can aid the economic transition of
Appalachia through the development of healthy local food systems. We brainstormed a list of key words
related to this work and drafted a vision statement. We also discussed potential outcomes, such as increased
opportunities for producers, educated consumers, and institutional purchasing from schools, hospitals and
restaurants. Click here to view resources used to help craft the Working Group’s vision statement
Next steps for the Food Systems Working group include refining a vision and impact statement, vetting it
with practitioners and allies, and using it to guide future learning and analysis for the Network and the
Central Appalachia region.
Appalachia Funders Network – 2012 Gathering Proceedings 10

14. Closing Reflections
The Appalachia Funders Network recognizes
that large scale, lasting change won’t happen as
the result of one grantmaker or one
organization’s work. The relationships we
develop through our annual gatherings are
essential to collaborating to create the changes
that we envision in Central Appalachia. Each
gathering allows us to make progress toward
shared strategies and broader impact than any
one funder or practitioner can achieve alone.
Together with leading practitioners, we went out
in the field to talk with local entrepreneurs and established and emerging leaders in Kentucky to hear
firsthand what support they need to thrive and succeed. We discussed the unique opportunities, assets, and
challenges that exist for entrepreneurs and communities in Appalachia. We considered what’s working and
not working in our approaches. We also learned that we have some work to do to more clearly define the
desired impact of our uniquely Appalachian model of economic development.
Through engaging in a mutual learning process with practitioners, students, emerging leaders, entrepreneurs
and diverse grantmakers, we explored common priorities to support and grow entrepreneurship and
strengthen community capacity to support the economic
transition of our region.
We believe that the work we accomplished during this year’s
gathering was one step in a much longer process of learning and
collaboration among a diverse set of grantmakers and
practitioners. We left the gathering knowing that we have a lot of
hard work ahead of us, but confident in the trust and relationships
we have with one another, encouraged by the common analysis
and vision being created among Network members, and excited to
continue to promote collaboration to create a more sustainable,
inclusive, and just Appalachian economy.
Appalachia Funders Network – 2012 Gathering Proceedings 11

15. Participating Funders
Appalachian Community Fund: Margo Miller*, Darryl Cannady
Appalachian Regional Commission: Earl Gohl, Ray Daffner,
Sue Moreland
blue moon fund: Stefan Jirka
Cherokee Preservation Foundation: Susan Jenkins, Charlie Myers
Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation: Mary Hunt-Lieving, Kimberly
Tieman
Community Foundation of Western North Carolina: Timothy Richards
Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland: Bonnie Blankenship
Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond: Jen Giovannitti*
Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky: Gerry Roll*, Robin Gabbard*
Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky: Susan Zepeda*
Heifer USA: Jeffrey Scott*
Kentucky Foundation for Women: Judith Jennings, Rae Strobel
Kentucky Philanthropy Initiative: Joe Clabes
Marguerite Casey Foundation: Cynthia Renfro
Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation: Sandra Mikush*, Lora Smith,
Dee Davis
One Foundation: Marz Attar, Barbara Wyckoff
Parkersburg Area Community Foundation: Fred Rader
Scioto Foundation: Kim Cutlip, Toni Dengel
The Alleghany Foundation: Mary Fant Donnan
The Ford Foundation: Wayne Fawbush
The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation: Becky Ceperley, Sheri Ryder
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Eddie Fendley
USDA Rural Development: Bobby Goode, State Director, Tennessee, Lisa
Sharp, Rural Development Coordinator, West Virginia, Robert Connelly,
Assistant to the State Director, Tennessee, Robert Lewis, State Director, West
Virginia, Thomas Fern, State Director, Kentucky, Timothy McNeilly, Rural
Development Coordinator, Kentucky, Tony Logan, State Director, Ohio
WV Grantmakers: Paul Daugherty
* 2012 Gathering Planning Team
Appalachia Funders Network – 2012 Gathering Proceedings 12

16. Participating Practitioners
Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center: Amelia Kirby
Appalshop’s Appalachian Media Institute: Natasha Watts, Ada Smith
Berea College: President Larry Shinn, William Turner, Anna Kate
McWhorter, Kelly Kusumoto, Matt Callo, Natalie Crone, Candace
Mullins, Ethan Hamblin
Brushy Fork Institute: Peter Hille, Donna Morgan
Eastern KY Local-Motive Business Alliance Network: Virginia
Shoemaker
Central Appalachian Network: Pam Curry, Larry Fisher, Marten Jenkins
Center for Economic Development, Entrepreneurship, and
Technology: Ian Mooers
Center for Participatory Change: Becky Brown, Nikki Marin
Charleston Area Alliance: Cullen Naumoff
Citizens Bank: Corey Craig
Clear Creek Festival: Robert Martin
Coalfield Development Corp: Brandon Dennison
Community Farm Alliance: Martin Richards
Emcee and Storyteller: Paula Larke
Endow Kentucky, Dept. for Local Government: Harry Carver
EntreWorks Consulting: Erik Pages
Estill County Judge/Executive: Wallace Taylor
Estill Development Alliance: Joe Crawford
Federation of Appalachian Housing Enterprises, Inc.: Jim King
University of Kentucky School of Human Environmental Sciences:
Deborah Murray
High Rocks Educational Corporation: Sarah Riley
Highlander Research and Education Center: Elandria Williams
Kentuckians for the Commonwealth: Burt Lauderdale
Mountain Association for Community Economic Development:
Justin Maxson, Regina Becknell
Powdermill Pottery: Lesa Gieringer
The JOBS Project, Inc.: Eric Mathis
University of Kentucky Appalachian Center: Dr. Evelyn Knight, Shane
Barton
West Virginia Community Development Hub: Kent Spellman
WV Center on Budget and Policy: Ted Boettner
Appalachia Funders Network – 2012 Gathering Proceedings 13

17. Pre-Conference Cultural Exchange
Speakers and Performers
Paula Larke, celebrated storyteller hosted an evening of
Appalachian cultural celebration and helped integrate arts and culture
throughout the entire gathering
Musicians Visual Artists
Berea Castoffs Debra Hille
Marc Reyes
Kentucky Artisan
Center at Berea Clear Creek
Victoria Faoro Festival
Robert Martin
Poet Carol O’Brien
Makalani Bandele Mitch Barrett
Moose Morgan
Robert Rorrer
Music Theater Poetry
Appalachia Funders Network – 2012 Gathering Proceedings 14

18. Gathering Sponsors
Gathering Hosts
We would like to extend a special thank you to the Historic Boone Tavern, Berea College, the Brushy Fork
Institute, New Opportunity School for Women, and the Main Street Cafe for hosting the gathering.
Appalachia Funders Network – 2012 Gathering Proceedings 15

19. About the Appalachia Funders Network
The Appalachia Funders Network is a group of public and private grantmakers who envision an
entrepreneurial-based Appalachian economy that provides opportunity for all while sustaining the
environmental and cultural assets of our region. Members of the Network have come together, in this time
of economic, social, political, and environmental transition in Appalachia to:
§ Learn and share information about promising development ideas, projects and strategies,
§ Deepen our collective analysis and understanding of entrepreneurial-based economic development
issues, challenges, and opportunities within Appalachia,
§ Build trusting and meaningful relationships among Appalachia-focused grant-makers, and
§ Discover new and innovative ways of working together for the purpose of accelerating the
economic transition of Central Appalachia.
Our work is focused in Central Appalachia, the region we define as the Appalachian counties of Ohio,
Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina. We believe that the current convergence
of economic innovation, federal policy initiatives, expanded regional capacity, and regional and national
funder interest offers unprecedented opportunities to:
§ Deepen the impact and expand the scale of promising economic transition efforts,
§ Develop and grow innovative approaches to building and growing wealth within the region, and
§ Leverage existing resources to increase outside investment in Appalachia's economic recovery.
Appalachia Funders Network Steering Committee
Becky Ceperley, The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation
Ray Daffner, Appalachian Regional Commission
Wayne Fawbush, Ford Foundation
Mary Hunt-Lieving, Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation
Stefan Jirka, blue moon fund
Sandra Mikush, Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation
Contact us:
Appalachiafundersnetwork@gmail.com
www.appalachiafunders.org
Appalachia Funders Network Coordinator
Rural Support Partners This paper was developed and
Thomas Watson, Executive Director written by Rural Support Partners
775 Haywood Road, Suite K and published with assistance and
Asheville, NC 28806 funding from the members of the
Email: thomas@ruralsupportpartners.com
Website: www.ruralsupportpartners.com Appalachia Funders Network.
Appalachia Funders Network – 2012 Gathering Proceedings 16