CriData.org
Title
Community Research Institute - West Michigan's source for Demographic, Economic, and Social Data
Description
The Grand Rapids Community Foundation and Grand Valley State University have joined forces to create the Community Research Institute (CRI), which is housed in the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership. The Institute monitors changing local and regional social conditions and provides this information to the local nonprofit and philanthropic community. CRI's goal is to be the "one-stop shop" for data about the Greater Grand Rapids community.
The Institute helps organizations understand the evolving needs of the community, document these needs for grant applications, and measure the success of their various programs. The CRI taps local experts in various areas such as hiring patterns, education, housing, and race relations. CRI also employs researchers with expertise in social research, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and community outreach. Associate researchers, faculty consultants, graduate assistants, student interns and clerical support also contribute to the effort.
CRI also provides education opportunities for Grand Valley's students. They learn how to work with community-based organizations as well as gather and analyze data.
