New Visual Data Dashboard Shows Community Needs for Polk County
A screenshot of the United Community Indicators Dashboard recently released by GiveWell Community Foundation and United Way of Central Florida (ucindicators.org)
GiveWell Community Foundation (GWCF) and United Way of Central Florida (UWCF) are excited to launch the United Community Indicators Dashboard, an online interactive tool that provides snapshots of key metrics that focus on community needs. The dashboard (ucindicators.org) is the second phase of the joint GWCF/UWCF United Community Needs Assessment (UCNA) project, which measured community needs in the tri-county area of Hardee, Highlands, and Polk counties in central Florida.
“We are proud to offer this valuable resource to our community,” said Callie Neslund, GiveWell Community Foundation’s President and CEO. “The data available on the dashboard benefits nonprofit organizations, governments, educators, and community members as we focus on our most pressing needs, and track trends and outcomes.”
In addition to UWCF and GWCF, the UCNA process involved community leaders throughout the tri-county area, as well as residents who completed the surveys and participated in focus groups. As a result, six priority domains were identified: economy & employment, education, food security, housing, quality of life, and transportation & infrastructure. The dashboard provides data about these domains for each of the three counties.
“The United Community Indicators project gives our community a shared foundation for action,” said Christina Criser Jackson, United Way of Central Florida’s President and CEO. “With clear, accessible data, we can continue to align efforts to meet the most urgent needs across Polk, Hardee, and Highlands counties.”
GiveWell Community Foundation (GWCF) works with individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofits to build a stronger community throughout Polk, Hardee, and Highlands counties and beyond through charitable funds and competitive grant cycles. Since its founding in 1997, GWCF has awarded more than $400 million in grants. Today, GWCF is home to more than 400 charitable funds and the Impact Polk and Empower grant cycles. To learn more, visit givecf.org or call 863-683-3131