FINANCING

T he scale, and therefore cost, of community mapping projects ranges considerably. Projects with a limited number of static maps can be relatively inexpensive, while dynamic, searchable maps that are made publicly available can be much more costly. A community organization can contract with a mapping intermediary to create five static maps for less than $1,000. Creating a searchable online system like Neighborhood Knowledge Los Angeles or the Philadelphia Neighborhood Information System (discussed in the Why Use It section) will cost more than $100,000 to start up and approximately $50,000 per year to maintain.

When developing a financing strategy to fund community mapping, it is useful to think about a range of funding sources. In fact, most of the community mapping efforts we profile use a mix of public, private, and philanthropic dollars. For example Neighborhood Knowledge Los Angeles (NKLA) is supported through funding from The National Telecommunication Information Administration (NTIA), Fannie Mae Foundation, Los Angeles Housing Department, and Microsoft Corporation. NKLA was developed and is maintained by the UCLA Advanced Policy Institute so the project receives additional resources from the university.

Possible Sources for Funding

• Public Agencies. Several public agencies support community mapping, particularly the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). On the federal level, two programs of note include the Technology Opportunities Program (National Telecommunication Information Administration) and The Community Outreach Partnership Center Program (Department of Housing and Urban Development). The Technology Opportunities Program provides funding to support community technology endeavors from GIS projects to community technology centers to social service distribution tools. The Community Outreach Partnership Center Program supports partnerships between institutions of higher education and community based organizations. This program has supported many community mapping projects by funding universities to be local mapping intermediaries. (Click here and select COPC from pull down menu for a list.) City agencies often support community mapping efforts through the use of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and other local community and economic development dollars.
• Foundations. Philanthropic organizations are also an important source of funding. Foundations interested in community building, civic engagement, community development, and economic development may support mapping projects when it's clear how the mapping project supports an organization's other goals. Foundations interested in technology are also potential supporters of community mapping efforts that use GIS and other technology. Visit TechSoup's Resource List for a list of technology-friendly funders.
• Private Sector. The private sector is another source of funding and support for community mapping efforts. In addition to grants, some corporations offer donations of GIS software, as well as in-kind contributions of employees' time.