SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) — The Great Plains Zoo and the Butterfly House and Aquarium are investigating a formal partnership arrangement.
The two organizations already collaborate in a number of areas, including education and conservation.
The Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation provided a grant to the organizations to hire a consultant to consider how the two entities could operate more closely if they choose to have a more formal relationship.
Below is the news release from the Great Plains Zoo and the Butterfly House and Aquarium.
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Sioux Falls, South Dakota: The Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum of Natural History and the Butterfly House & Aquarium are exploring formal partnership opportunities to collaborate and serve the community on a larger scale, the two organizations announced today.
Over the past 18 months, the organizations have started collaborating in the areas of education, conservation, membership and marketing, which has led to a broader conversation about the benefits that a formal partnership could bring to serve the Sioux Falls area.
“The synergy between our two organizations has brought us together through our shared mission work and into a broader conversation about mission impact in our community,” said Audrey Otto, Chief Executive Officer, Butterfly House & Aquarium.
With the unanimous support of both boards, the organizations formed a joint exploration committee in November to consider whether the Butterfly House & Aquarium and Great Plains Zoo should join forces. The committee includes two board members from each organization, along with the organizations’ respective chief executive officers. A third party consultant is facilitating the work of the joint exploration committee, which will include specific consideration of how a partnership could allow the organizations to better serve the community.
“We will use our like missions as our guide star for this exploratory process, helping us determine how we can best serve our community, staff and animals in our care,” said Becky Dewitz, Chief Executive Officer, Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum of Natural History.
Through a grant from the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation, the organizations have hired national consulting firm Zoo Advisors to consider the operational feasibility and potential economic impact if a formal partnership would be established.
