CivicKnot workshop concept

Proposed workshop

Understanding Your Community

A practical draft for small-town community nonprofit leaders who want to look closely at the supporters, local assets, and organizations already connected to their mission.

Community nonprofit leaders90-minute draft · timing proposed
View the proposed agenda View registration area

Date, time, and time zone: to be announced. Delivery format, location, and facilitator: to be determined. The title and agenda are proposed; you can register your interest below.

The proposed focus

Begin with what your community already has.
The draft session brings together two existing CivicKnot resources: a fundraising excerpt about understanding your community and a workbook preview with a Community Asset Map exercise.

Notice current supporters, potential supporters, and influencers.

Connect local assets and organizations to your mission.

Draft schedule · 90 minutes

A clear path from mapping to next steps

This proposed sequence uses elapsed time as a planning placeholder. Final topics and timings may change.

  1. 010–10 min

    Welcome and shared purpose

    Set the draft session goal: notice the people, places, and relationships already around your mission.

  2. 0210–30 min

    Map supporters and connections

    Sketch current supporters, potential supporters, and community influencers using the Chapter 2 prompt.

  3. 0330–55 min

    Inventory community assets

    Use the Community Asset Map headings to connect local assets with your organization’s mission.

  4. 0455–75 min

    Explore local organization links

    Consider how schools, churches, civic groups, and local government can connect people and resources.

  5. 0575–90 min

    Choose a next step

    Close by naming one relationship or community asset to learn more about after the proposed session.

Illustrative draft preview

A look at possible facilitator materials

This outline is assembled from the supplied Chapter 2 excerpt and workbook prompts. It is not an existing or approved facilitator guide, packet, or downloadable file.

Draft run of show
A proposed sequence, not an existing facilitator document.
  • Welcome and shared purpose
  • Map supporters and connections
  • Inventory community assets
  • Explore local organization links
  • Choose a next step
Supporter-mapping prompt
Start by thinking through the three groups named in the supplied excerpt.
  • Current supporters
  • Potential supporters
  • Community influencers
Community Asset Map exercise
Identify the assets your community already possesses and how they connect to your mission. Be specific — vague assets lead to vague strategies.
  • Asset
  • Who Controls It
  • How It Serves Our Mission
  • Relationship Status
Discussion and debrief prompts
Questions shown in the supplied Community Asset Map workbook preview.
  • Who are the unsung influencers in my town?
  • What barriers do residents face that my organization could address?
  • What does my community do better than anywhere else?
Continue with existing CivicKnot content

Explore the source material

These published previews provide the supporter-mapping and Community Asset Map prompts reflected in this proposed workshop.

Chapter 2: Understanding Your Community
Review the approved excerpt on supporters, community assets, and local organizations.
Read the Chapter 2 excerpt
Community Asset Map workbook preview
See the supplied asset-map headings and reflection prompts in the workbook preview.
Open the Community Asset Map preview

Registration area

Register your interest

This form records your interest in the proposed workshop. Its date, time, time zone, delivery format, location, and facilitator are not announced yet.

Share your name and email to record your interest in this proposed workshop.