This paper urges foundations and state and federal agencies to consider funding rural community colleges, in light of the successful experiences of the Rural Community College Initiative. Much of rural America is in trouble because educational attainment and job opportunities are low; innovation is stifled by poor schools, isolation, and powerlessness; and geographic isolation and poor infrastructure make it difficult to link to the global economy. The key to rural renewal is educational access, economic development, and civic capacity-building. Community colleges are perfectly positioned to provide these, yet they are seldom on the radar screens of foundations or government agencies concerned with rural development. Grantmakers can fund community-oriented programs at rural community colleges such as outreach to underserved populations, service learning, community leadership development, K-16 partnerships, curriculum development relevant to local culture and economy, and distance learning and technology. Funders can support institutional development and help break down isolation in rural colleges through professional development programs. Strategies for promoting systemic change include investing in administrator education and policy-oriented consortia. States can assist their community colleges without increasing state budgets by promoting community service and service learning at community colleges, encouraging community leadership programs, and using community colleges as institutional homes for small business assistance programs. Two appendices present selected public and philanthropic programs and lessons on design of rural development programs. (TD)