🧠 Mental HealthNational

Rural Minds

Describing itself as the only national 501(c)(3) focused on advocating for rural mental health equity, Rural Minds provides mental health information, education and stigma-reduction programs for rural America's 46 million residents, working through FFA, 4-H, schools and churches.

Rural suicide rates run 64–68% higher than in large urban areas — Rural Minds, which calls itself the only national nonprofit for rural mental health equity, is fighting back.

You give directly to Rural Minds. randomcharity.com takes $0 and never touches your money.

What Rural Minds does

Rural Minds is a national nonprofit focused on mental health in rural America, which it describes as 46 million people living in farming, ranching and agricultural communities, small towns and isolated areas. Its stated mission is to be an informed voice for rural mental health and to provide mental health information and resources. It describes itself as the only national 501(c)(3) focused on advocating for rural mental health equity.

Founder and chairman Jeff Winton started the organization after his nephew Brooks, who worked on the family dairy farm, died by suicide at 28. Rural Minds concentrates on education, awareness and reducing stigma. Its work includes a webinar series, rural suicide awareness and prevention, a Rural Youth Mental Wellness Program, a Farmer Mental Health Resilience Program and a Deep Roots program. It works through institutions rural residents already know, such as FFA, 4-H, rural school districts and churches, and runs a mental health program for veterinarians.

The group points to data showing rural suicide rates are 64% to 68% higher than in large urban areas, and says 65% of rural counties have no psychiatrist. Charity Navigator has not rated Rural Minds yet, because it hasn't received the public data it needs to calculate a score.

Key facts

  • Founded by Jeff Winton after his nephew Brooks, who worked on the family dairy farm, died by suicide at age 28 (Seed World, Dec 2025)
  • Cites data showing suicide rates in rural areas are 64%–68% higher than in large urban areas (Rural Minds site)
  • Cites that 65% of rural counties have no psychiatrist (Rural Minds site)
  • Programs include a Rural Youth Mental Wellness Program, a Farmer Mental Health Resilience Program and rural suicide awareness and prevention work (Rural Minds site)

Before you give

  • The online form accepts one-time or monthly gifts by card or ACH bank transfer.
  • Charity Navigator lists Rural Minds as not yet rated because the required public data isn't available.

Common questions

Is Rural Minds a legitimate charity?

Tax status: US 501(c)(3) — donations are tax-deductible for US taxpayers. It files with the IRS under EIN 85-2873467, and its annual returns are public on ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer. It isn't rated by the major evaluators, which is common for small, local and non-US charities. As with any charity, check its latest filings before a large gift.

Are donations to Rural Minds tax-deductible?

US 501(c)(3) — donations are tax-deductible for US taxpayers.

Where does Rural Minds work?

Rural Minds works in Rural United States.

How do I donate to Rural Minds?

Use the Donate button on this page — it goes straight to Rural Minds's own donation page on ruralminds.app.neoncrm.com. randomcharity.com doesn't process payments, doesn't see your card details and takes no cut.

Sources

  1. ruralminds.org/
  2. ruralminds.app.neoncrm.com/forms/donate
  3. charitynavigator.org/ein/852873467
  4. guidestar.org/profile/85-2873467
  5. morningagclips.com/pbs-premieres-roadtrip-nation-documentary-featuring-rural-m
  6. seedworld.com/us/2025/12/16/the-cost-of-silence-in-rural-america/

Profile researched and last reviewed September 2026. Ratings and figures change — the linked evaluator pages always show the current version.

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