Non-Profit
Over 1,100 community members participated in the Park County Community Foundation’s seventh annual We Will Community Survey this summer. Findings from the survey will be presented to the public at an in-person event and two virtual events this month, with details below.
Since 2018, PCCF has surveyed residents and community leaders annually on five key community priorities—Landscapes & Natural Amenities, Housing & Affordability, Economic Performance, Small Town & Rural Lifestyle, and Health, Safety & Education. Equipped with insight and opinions from residents, hard data is combined with public perceptions in an annual We Will report to guide collective action, inspire solutions that reflect the community’s aspirations, and inform PCCF's grantmaking to select nonprofits most effectively working on these issues locally. In 2025, PCCF granted nearly $400,000 across all We Will priority areas to local nonprofits.
The Shields Valley Elementary School exemplifies how the results of the We Will community survey inform grant distributions to get things done in Park County. In 2025, based on insights, opinions, and data gathered during We Will community conversations, the school applied for and received a Health, Safety, and Education grant to install four solar-powered radar speed signs near the school grounds. This creates a safer environment for students, families, and the broader community.
"The We Will initiative puts community voices front and center as we consider how to move forward in Park County. Knowing that we all have a say, as well as a shared responsibility in the future, is so empowering,” said Keva Ward, PCCF Program Manager. "The We Will report informs PCCF’s community grant-making and ensures that we’re providing support for the issues that most deeply impact our neighbors.”
The in-person community conversation will be held on Wednesday, October 22nd at the Park County Fairgrounds in the Dining Hall of the Main Exhibit Building. Doors open at 5:00 pm for refreshments, followed by a presentation of the report and a facilitated conversation from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm. Attendees will receive a printed copy of the 2025 We Will report.
For those unable to attend in person, two virtual events are scheduled for Thursday, October 23rd from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm, and from 3 to 4:30 pm. The virtual calls are designed to make participation easier for everyone who wants to have a voice in what issues are most important to them.
More information and links to join the Zoom calls may be found on the PCCF website at https://www.pccf-montana.org/events. Community members interested in the future of Park County are encouraged to attend one or all these free events.