1. What does your community really need?
Julie Stanley
Director of Grants and Strategic Initiatives

2. Define the scope Community need to be addressed
Community members who will be served
Geographic area to assess

3. Go solo or collaborate? Complete assessment activities on your own OR
Work with community partners
Corporations
Nonprofits
Local community organizations
Foundations

4. Collect data Stay within previously defined scope Do one, do them all…
Community meeting
Focus group
Interviews
Survey

5. Community meeting Establish meeting goals Select location and time
Promote the event
Set and follow agenda
Prepare questions in advance

6. Focus group Select location and time Invite 6-12 community members
Select a facilitator to lead
Prepare questions in advance
Explain your purpose and outline your goals

7. Interviews Identify your goals Identify and select target respondents
Prepare questions
Establish rapport with your respondent

8. Survey Identify target respondents Explain the purpose for your survey
Keep it short and simple
Give respondents time to complete it
Carefully review your results

9. Key findings will:
Validate anecdotal evidence of community needs and assets
Highlight significant trends
Reveal differences across segments of the community

10. Organize your findings
Strengths
Gaps
Opportunities
Challenges

11. Set priorities, create a plan
Decide how to address your community’s needs
Create an action plan with goals and objectives
Determine how you’ll measure effectiveness

12. Share your findings Distribute your action plan
Allow the community to benefit from your findings
Engage community members in your plans

13. Kiwanis Children’s Fund
KiwanisChildrensFund.org
1-800-KIWANIS, ext. 225 (U.S. and Canada) or (worldwide)