The Rural Gone Urban Foundation
Founded by Brooke Clay Taylor, a small business owner, breast cancer slayer, and practitioner of loving without an asterisk, the Rural Gone Urban foundation invests in strong women doing brave things.
The Rural Gone Urban Foundation supports women through scholarships, grants for small-town businesses, and assistance for those battling cancer.
In 2022, Brooke Clay Taylor confronted an expiration date amid the chaos of a cancer diagnosis, and amidst grappling with becoming a cancer patient once more, her greatest concern centered on the lessons she might not be able to impart to her daughter.
Because, simply, when the good die young, we only share their highlight reel.
Recognizing the importance of highlighting the full spectrum of life's seasons, especially the challenging ones, Brooke launched the Rural Gone Urban Foundation.
The Foundation serves as a platform to shine a spotlight on brave and strong women while acknowledging the hardships that accompany life's journey.
Pillars of Stupendous Giving
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No GPA-Required Scholarships
As a high school senior, Brooke's guidance counselor doubted her college potential. However, with support from family, friends, and vital scholarship funding, Brooke remained determined. Despite initial setbacks, she earned two degrees and launched a successful career in agriculture.
The Rural Gone Urban Foundation aims to empower students like Brooke—those with grit and determination—to pursue higher education and achieve their dreams. -
Small Business Grants
Brooke initiated her strategic communications business, Rural Gone Urban, from a humble apartment located in a horse barn. Armed with just one client and a fervent hope, she ventured forth, leaving behind a corporate advertising career to follow her dreams.
With only three figures in her bank account, the margins were razor-thin, and the risks towering.
Today, the Rural Gone Urban Foundation extends grants to small business owners mirroring Brooke's journey—those navigating narrow margins but harboring grand aspirations. These grants provide crucial support for essential marketing assets such as websites, social media strategies, and advertising plans, pivotal tools for standing out in today's competitive marketplace.
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Love Bombs
Cancer is hard enough. You feel like donkey balls. You’re scared. And somehow, you still have to keep up with the rest of your life.
The Rural Gone Urban Foundation awards judgement-free grants to women in the ring with cancer.
We hope love bomb recipients use financial support to be selfish. We envision recipients making memories, create a legacies, and having a few moments where cancer isn’t driving the ship.
Because sometimes, you just need someone in your corner.
No-Gpa-Required Scholarships
In 2024, we’re awarding ten $1,000, no-GPA-required scholarships to gritty, hardworking, rural women.
When a storm arises - literally or figuratively - we have an opportunity to lean into it, or run.
Bison do what any of us hope we’d do it in that situation — they face the storm.
While the others — elk, deer, moose, et al. - run, bison turn into the storm. And in doing so, they’re in midst of the storm for less time than those who are running with it.
The Rural Gone Urban Foundation supports brave and strong women. Those who turn into their storms. Those who refuse to backdown from a challenge.
The Annual Report
We’re honored to share the results of our first 9 months as an organization in our inaugural annual report.