Lessons in Rural Policy and Grantmaking: This presentation will center on the trends indicated by community conversations in six rural communities/counties in Missouri. Following the 2016 election, rural-based community groups told the Missouri Foundation for Health that the results were affirmation of what everyone in rural zip codes already knew: There was something was affecting rural America. In response, the Foundation initiated a funding program to allow communities to have conversations; bring in various voices; and to being talking about the impact of local public policy on the lives of those in the communities over a two year period. This presentation will discuss the lessons learned; the implications for rural grantmaking; and offer suggestions for improving public health/health outcomes as the result of coordination and communication amongst embedded individuals and institutions.