Community Assessment
Use the topics and questions listed in the table guide to write a detailed narrative essay.
With whom do you
want to build a
With whom do you relationship? What
have a relationship do you think they
now? What do you care about? What
think they care about could they potentially
External Resources and contribute? Why? contribute?
Corporations:
0 Who are the large
employers?
0 Media: What local
newspapers, television, and
radio stations exist?
0 What businesses
organizations exist? Are
they connected to the
neighborhood?
0 What are the closest
financial institutions in the
neighborhood? What is
their relationship to and
lending history in the
neighborhood?
Philanthropic Organizations:
0 What foundations operate
in your area? Who runs
them?
0 What is the history of
funding for community
programs?
0 Do they fund programs in
the targeted
neighborhood?
0 What is the role of the
local United Way in this
community?
What other types of
philanthropic giving
existin this area?
Government:
0 Local government: Is there
a strong mayor or city
manager?
a City council-composition,
representation, meeting
times?
a State and federal-
who are the
representatives?
0 What relationship
does government
have with the
neighborhood?
0 What are the terms of
office for the various
positions? How are they
elected? What parties are
represented?
o What mechanisms exist for
citizen participation in
government?
Large External
institutions:
0 Universities: What
percentages are local
residents and out-of-
town students? What
degrees or programs do
you offer?
What types of special
research, community, or
other programs do you
have?
0 Hospitals: Where do your
patients come from
primarily? Do you serve
low-income individuals
and/or communities? What
programs and services do
you provide?