2016 Community Needs Assessment

How would you improve life in Hamilton County?  That is the question the Enhance Hamilton County Foundation Board has been asking.  As a result, we decided to support a community needs assessment to assist us in grant making, charitable endowment development, and community leadership.

The purpose of the Enhanced Hamilton County Foundation’s 2016 Greater Hamilton Community Assessment is to identify the needs in the county.  In collaboration with Power Up YOUth, Upper Des Moines Opportunity, Ameri-Corps and the Community Ally, over 60 Hamilton County residents were interviewed to discuss their perception of the needs of Hamilton County and its residents. The results indicated the need to address many social service problems, cultural supports, and conservation/water quality issues.

The assessment is organized under the six philanthropic categories under the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines. These include: Arts and Culture, Community Betterment, Education, Recreation/ Environment, Health and Human Services, and Youth Development. Under each of these categories three community priorities are identified by the number of times interviewees mentioned them as a need.

Executive Summary

Community Needs Assessment Full Report