Funders Visit Buffalo, MO for Philanthropy Missouri's First Rural Community Site Visits
Philanthropy Missouri (PhilMO) hosted its first rural community site visits in Buffalo, Missouri, as part of the 2nd annual Rural Philanthropy Summit held on May 7-8, 2024, in Springfield.
The learning experience was designed to help funder-participants grow in their understanding of the lived experience of rural Missourians and to highlight the efforts that have helped the Buffalo community thrive.
Hollie Elliott, director of Dallas County Economic Development and board member of the Dallas County Community Foundation (DCCF) and Sue Dyle, also a board member of DCCF, worked closely with PhilMO to design the experience. Hollie and Sue selected site visits and recruited community leaders including the mayor, school superintendent, county commissioner, and a local pastor to share their experience and passion for Buffalo with the group.
“The Buffalo community greatly appreciated and enjoyed an opportunity to host the first PhilMO rural community visit,” said Elliott. “It was an important time for us to reflect on the progress we’ve made, and the process by which we got here. Preparing for this visit was the perfect encouragement we needed to engage in this reflection. As a small rural community, we were honored to have this platform from which to ‘tell our story.’ The event energized (and re-energized) our community members and leaders to look forward into the future as we continue to invest in our people and community.”
Buffalo community leaders opened the experience by providing an introduction to Buffalo over lunch catered by a local eatery. The group then toured the Dallas County Technical Center and City of Buffalo Airport/Dallas County Fair Grounds & Historical Park Complex. Before leaving Buffalo, participants engaged in a debrief of the experience (while eating delicious homemade pies!) and had the opportunity to shop in a local boutique.
Many of the participants noted that the experience provided new insights and, in some cases, shifted their perspectives about how best to support rural communities. Some of the key learnings included a recognition that effective collaboration between the city, county, school district, and faith community is imperative for community thriving, and that even small financial investments into rural communities can make a big impact.
Stacy Harris, Supervisor of Community Outreach for Delta Dental of Missouri, reflected on her experience in Buffalo:
"As a rural funder, I am grateful for the opportunity to have participated in the site visit to Buffalo, MO. It was truly impactful. Hearing how the community leaders have revitalized the city through innovative strategies and strong partnerships was incredibly inspiring. The visit allowed me to connect with fellow rural funders and gain a better understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities for growth in rural areas. I learned the significance of building strong relationships with the rural communities we support - each community requires tailored approaches. I left feeling energized and motivated to enhance our engagement with the communities we fund!
Since the visit, I have connected with local leaders and am excited to explore how our funding can advance the community's oral health. My hope is to collaborate and create a blueprint for success that can be replicated in other rural communities facing dental shortages, ensuring sustained improvements in health.
I appreciate Philanthropy Missouri's efforts to facilitate deeper connections with rural communities and foster collaboration among funders. These site visits are invaluable, and I look forward to participating in future opportunities!"
Because of the enthusiastic response of the Buffalo visit participants to this type of learning, Philanthropy Missouri plans to include rural community site visits as part of the agenda for the new Rural Funder Network, which will begin in September 2024.
