De Smet Community Foundation Case Study
Through a partnership with Pollen Midwest, we created a case study to learn how the De Smet Community Foundation has been the vehicle for many successful efforts to solve long-standing community problems.
Excerpt from the Case Study
Working closely with their community, the De Smet Community Foundation created a 20-year plan to grow the population while maintaining the things that made De Smet a great place to live.
![Shared idea illustration](/sites/default/files/styles/half_image/public/2020-02/emerge-1_0.jpg?itok=6i18iHXc)
Collaboration
When representatives from other towns tour De Smet’s event center, they often ask Rita, “How did you get everyone to work together?” Her answer: joint meetings from the get-go, partners viewed the event center as a community project that required teamwork.
![Key Illustration](/sites/default/files/styles/half_image/public/2020-02/key.jpg?itok=--KDIJuL)
Sharing Ownership
At both the foundation and the development corporation, keeping secrets from the community is off the table. Instead, each organization often consults with residents before making decisions.
![Storefront](/sites/default/files/styles/half_image/public/2020-02/BP2016DESMETv02.jpg?itok=k_5_DcRi)