The National Rural Development Partnership (NRDP), works to strengthen rural America through collaboration and cooperation among its partners.  The NRDP brings together partners from local, state, tribal, and federal governments, as well as from the for-profit and nonprofit private sectors.  The NRDP has three main components.  One of these components is the State Rural Development Councils.  There are currently 40 State Rural Development Councils (SRDCs).  The State Councils form the primary components of the Partnership and bring together key rural players in their states to address critical community concerns and to respond to fast-breaking opportunities.  State Councils are responsible for creating their own mission, structure, operating guidelines, and action plan.  Each Council hires an executive director who works with the Council leadership.

In addition to facilitating coordination and collaboration on a state level, SRDCs also work through a national network to affect major change on a regional, and often national level.  SRDCs are a strong, vibrant connection between the government and the population and have been utilized to both spread new and updated information on government and private sector programs and opportunities.