About Thrive Kansas 

Rural communities need to stop managing decline, and instead embrace the future, envisioning how to grow and thrive.

We are building an organization that resets attitudes on local and state levels regarding the future of rural areas in Kansas, not only to ensure our rural communities’ survival, but to go even further and stimulate a seachange in which they are thriving and prospering for generations to come.

Of Kansas’ 105 counties, 98 are considered rural or frontier. There are 625 rural towns in Kansas. It is of critical importance that we identify and address the unique needs of rural Kansans. Their voices need to be heard and Thrive Kansas is here to amplify these voices.

Thrive Kansas is modeled after the award-winning Thrive Allen County organization which blends health, wellness, and economic development into a strategy for sparking rural turnaround. Thrive Allen County was awarded the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Prize in 2017, the only Kansas community to earn this honor.

mission

To advance programs, policies, and resources to promote and strengthen community well-being in rural Kansas.

vision

A Kansas in which rural communities thrive and their voices are heard.

Our Commitment

To advocate on behalf of rural and underserved communities in Kansas.

Priority Audience

Rural and underserved communities.

Our Core Values

  • Build collaborative relationships: Work with others who have common goals  to improve the quality of life in Kansas.
  • Establish healthy communities across the state.
  • Develop, create and incubate programs and policies and then transfer that control to local community entities.
  • Lead community engagement to address solutions that improve the lives of rural Kansans.
  • Empower rural and unrepresented communities in Kansas.

Our Goals

Our identified goals for the next three to five years are:

ADVOCACY

Strengthen Kansas rural communities by addressing their challenges, needs and opportunities. 

PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

Expand and share the existing successful model of Thrive Allen County to grow and scale impact.

COALITION BUILDING

Facilitate dialogue and collaboration among diverse organizations across Kansas to effect change in rural communities.

Organizational growth

Develop a solid, sustainable organization by maximizing its existing infrastructure.

funding diversification

Diversify funding sources to ensure sustainability and growth.