Neighborhood Organizations and Community Development

摘要

Based on a 2 - year study, this report discusses the role of Neighborhood Development Organizations (NDO's) in neighborhood revitalization and ways to ensure the effectiveness of their activities. Examining the experience of nearly 100 (NDO's) in major urban areas, the study was designed to assess how effectively NDO's actually plan and implement current projects and what can be done to improve performance. Findings reveal that NDO's vary in size, skill, experience, links to others, and their environments. The largest number of NDO's currently are concentrating heavily on housing activities and are actually nonprofit housing corporations. NDO's were most successful in their efforts in housing, energy, and community development. Factors contributing to NDO's good performance were skilled and experienced staff, outside financial support, an understanding of projects' financial feasibility, the quality of working relationships with local government, access to competent technical assistance, and a high level of community support. The report examines accompanying capacity - building accomplishments, processes, and further needs. A final section explicitly delineates what NDO's can do to encourage project success and future growth. A series of appendices provide further background on study organizations, data sources and methods, methodological complications, and future directions for research. Tables and footnotes are supplied.