TOLEDO, Ohio — February 24, 2025 — The John Henry Eldred Jr. Foundation and Rural LISC are proud to announce a new partnership to launch the Rural Employment & Financial Coaching Network (EFCN) for Rural Northwest Ohio. With a $100,000 investment from the Foundation, this initiative will provide critical financial and employment coaching resources to rural communities across Northwest Ohio.

The EFCN is designed to strengthen and expand financial coaching and employment services in rural areas by equipping community-based organizations with essential training, peer networking opportunities, and financial support. This pilot project will convene an inaugural cohort of 10 community development organizations serving rural communities with populations of 50,000 or less. The selected organizations will be announced in early March.

“The John Henry Eldred Jr. Foundation is committed to supporting initiatives that create lasting community impact,” said Mike Deetsch, executive director of the John Henry Eldred Jr. Foundation. “Through this partnership with Rural LISC, we are investing in the financial well-being and economic stability of rural communities in Northwest Ohio, ensuring individuals have the tools they need to build brighter futures.”

The EFCN was developed to provide a space to learn and grow for Financial Opportunity Center® program partners and community development organizations offering a similar integrated service delivery of financial, employment, and income support (connection to public benefits) coaching. This network broadens the resources available to these organizations in rural communities and provides a strong peer-to-peer support network across the country.

With funding support from the John Henry Eldred Jr. Foundation, Rural LISC will convene an initial cohort of 10 rural community development organizations across Northwest Ohio, who provide financial and employment coaching and/or homeownership counseling services. Organizations in the cohort will receive a $5,000 capacity-building stipend to support their engagement in trainings and peer learning events.

Through this initiative, participating organizations will receive:

• Capacity-Building Stipends – Funding to support its participation in training and peer learning events.
• Nationally Recognized Training & Resources – Participants will receive best-in-class training in financial and employment coaching.
• Peer-to-Peer Learning Opportunities – A dynamic national network for sharing insights and strategies.
• Recognition & Amplification – Recognition for organizations’ financial and employment coaching efforts, amplifying their impact.
• Assessments & Impact Measurement – Assessments throughout their participation to ensure the cohort is supporting improved impact. 

Participating organizations will be required to:

• Engage in training sessions, quarterly meetings, and discussions to enhance the effectiveness of their programs.
• Maintain an active database to track client financial and employment outcomes.
• Provide mid-year and year-end reports showcasing progress in net income, credit scores, job wages, and employment retention.

“Rural LISC is thrilled to partner with the John Henry Eldred Jr. Foundation to expand the reach of financial and employment coaching programs in Northwest Ohio,” said Nadia Villagrán, director of Rural LISC and vice president of LISC. “This initiative will help ensure that rural organizations have the resources and support needed to create meaningful economic opportunities for their communities.”

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About John Henry Eldred Jr. Foundation

The John Henry Eldred Jr. Foundation proudly funds nonprofits and libraries dedicated to addressing critical aspects of society, such as food security, housing stability, and youth education. Since our inception in 2012, we've had the privilege of making substantial contributions, totaling $5,160,500, to over 100 nonprofit organizations throughout Northwest Ohio and small, rural libraries in low-income communities across the United States. These contributions include the most recent grant cycle in 2024.

As a young and growing organization, The Foundation aspires to be a beacon of hope, embodying the values of our founder, John Henry Eldred Jr. His legacy of generosity and community service serves as our guiding light. Through strategic investments and unwavering dedication, we remain committed to uplifting families and communities, ensuring a lasting impact in the lives of those we have the privilege to serve.

For more information, please visit jhefoundation.org/.

About Rural LISC

Launched in 1995, Rural LISC is the rural component of Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC), the largest community development support organization in the country. Through a partnership base of over 14550 organizations across 49 states and Puerto Rico, Rural LISC provides a wide range of services, including capacity-building grants and loans, training, technical assistance and public policy advocacy.

To date, Rural LISC has leveraged nearly $3.3 billion from public and private sources to produce more than 35,000 affordable homes and apartments, over 4 million square feet of commercial and community space, including 20 early childhood care centers, and has provided technical assistance to support more than 1,000 businesses, resulting in over 20,000 jobs supported and/or retained. Rural LISC also supports nearly 20 rural-based Financial Opportunity Center® programs by providing financial counseling, education, training and other employment services to thousands of residents. Rural LISC is committed to investing in rural communities as great places to live, work, learn and innovate.

Learn more at www.lisc.org/rural.