Groundwork Grants Project Mentor: Emily Rainwater
In 2025, for the second round of the Groundwork Grants main grant, we increased awards from $15,000 to $20,000, added staff training opportunities, and a project mentorship option. Applicants from organizations with no more than three paid staff could request the services of a consultant to confer with throughout their projects to help ensure maximum success and impact. Such individuals, provided through Myriad Consulting, are able to advise on matters such as the care and handling of materials, procurement of appropriate supplies and equipment, preservation considerations in facility renovations or relocation, professional development for staff, digital preservation strategies, capacity building, and more.
Emily Rainwater is one of the 7 mentors guiding 22 of the Groundwork Grants awardees through their projects. Her mentees include the Sonoma Valley Historical Society and the Francophone Museum. Read Emily’s own words about her experiences with these organizations:
“I’ve been fortunate to work with so many amazing California cultural heritage institutions through my time with Myriad. This year, I’m providing mentorship services to Groundwork Grants recipients as they strive to improve their disaster and emergency preparedness. Each institution is different - different collections, different audiences, and different needs. I try to meet each organization where they’re at, and provide information and resources that can help with those needs.
The Sonoma Valley Historical Society tells the story of the Valley of the Moon through many voices. They produce exhibitions and educational materials; and collect, preserve, and make accessible local history at the Marcy House Archives & Research Center. I’ve been working closely with the Sonoma Valley Historical Society as they draft a pocket plan, create and assign emergency response roles, work on their collection prioritization lists and create a disaster response plan. They have jumped into learning new skills, tackling new projects, and utilizing the new tools and training received through the grant.
The Francophone Museum celebrates the rich history, culture, and contributions of the French-speaking community in San Francisco and California. Their collection includes textiles, objects, documents, photographs, books, and everything in between. The Francophone Museum has also been working on an emergency response and pocket plan, as well as developing collection management policies like integrated pest management, acquisition procedures, and reviewing environmental monitoring data.
“Emergency preparedness becomes more and more important every day. I’m glad I’ve played a small part in helping these organizations improve their policies and disaster planning, and am so proud of the work they have done!”
Image provided by Emily Rainwater
Emily Rainwater earned a master’s degree in Information Studies with a Certificate of Advanced Study in the Conservation of Library and Archival from the University of Texas at Austin in 2009. She completed an advanced internship at the Library of Congress and a post graduate fellowship at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History working on the Thomas Jefferson Bible conservation project. She’s previously worked for the State Archives of North Carolina and the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.