Grounding Values in Research is a multi-year initiative that sheds light on the financial health, activities, leadership, and production of nonprofit community development organizations across the United States. The initiative provides stakeholders with actionable insights that they can use to increase the effectiveness and sustainability of the community development field. The Grounding Values Advisory Committee included funders, advocates, community developers, and the associations that serve them members.

Identity of the Field 

This project is the only research effort that examines who community development organizations are, who leads them, what they produce, and how they connect with the communities they serve.  

Tax records of 5,720 organizations were analyzed, leading to the creation of the national Financial Health Report and 140 State and Metro Area Fact Sheets. These resources provide a detailed view of organizational profiles, enhancing advocacy and fundraising efforts.  
 

Measurable Impact

Grounding Values highlights the measurable contributions community development organizations make to low- and moderate-income communities. By examining key metrics like financial health, leadership, and community impact, this project underscores the transformative role of these organizations in fostering prosperity.  

We commissioned the Urban Institute to conduct a National Census of Community-Based Development Organizations. It highlights the number of jobs, housing units, and services that community development organizations have delivered.
We partnered with ThirdSpace Action Lab to create Storied Communities, Community Stories. Artist-researchers conducted interviews with 56 residents living in four communities across the U.S. The report reveals residents’ visions of where community development has been, where it is today, and where it could be heading.

 

Actionable Insights

At its core, the Grounding Values In Research delivers actionable strategies that funders, policymakers, and other stakeholders can use to enhance their support for the field. It provides a unique lens on how resources flow throughout the community development field — highlighting patterns of uneven distribution.

Policymakers, funders, and stakeholders can use this data needed to address disparities and drive change.  

The Money Meets Community series analyzes how funding flows among community development organizations. The reports provide insights into how investments can be better aligned to support sustainable growth across the sector.  

 

Connecting Community Developers

The 2024 Grounding Values in Research webinar brought together 1000+ community development professionals to explore key challenges and opportunities.

Webinar Series

  • Storied Communities, Community Stories examined how community development organizations engage residents.

  • Cultivating Community Development Professionals highlighted key skills and training resources for emerging leaders in the field.

  • Money Meets Community: The 80/20 Dilemma explored funding disparities in the field and its impact on smaller organizations and those led by people of color.

  • Navigating Obstacles to Development addressed barriers, including regulatory challenges, financing gaps, and site access issues.

 

Open Access Data

All of the project’s data is publicly available for use by students, researchers, and advocates, enabling deeper exploration and informed decision-making across the field.

Data Sets

 

Do you have questions about the research? Are you interested in hosting a data-informed conversation at one of your events? Contact Research Associate Chanse Sonsalla at [email protected]