By Tom Bandy
Congregational Planning Method
Most congregational users prefer to skip the initial “What Do You Want to Do” screen to explore a smaller, designated area. You can find the Opportunity Scan tool by clicking the “Demographics” tab on the bottom toolbar of the screen. Then find the Opportunity Scan tool at the bottom of the pop-up menu. Click “Create Opportunity Scan” and then select the specific data point you want to research. Opportunity Scan identifies levels of population density using shades of color. The darkest shade indicates highest population density. You can check the box that gives you the level of detail you seek.
In this example, we explore potential for non-profit outreach related to affordable housing in Hagerstown and area. The demographic force of centralization has motivated low-income households (often single parents and elderly) to relocate from rural areas and small towns to mid-market city-centers. Meanwhile, urbanization encourages the development of high-income neighborhoods outside the city along transportation corridors. Non-profits need to connect with groups on each side of the economic spectrum.
Targeted Outreach
Low-Income Households $15,000 – $25,000
Planning a non-profit outreach is complex, but you can start by identifying the neighborhoods where the need may be greatest. This Opportunity Scan defines areas with greatest population density for households that may be above the poverty line but struggling with low incomes. These households may face hard choices prioritizing money for food and rent.
Depending on your outreach purpose, you can do further Opportunity Scans for household income among African American, Hispanic, and Asian households, households below poverty line, and households by family size.
Zoom in and see the street names. Switch to “Satellite View” and see the existing properties on any street. PeoplePlot identifies households of UMC participants living in the area, which individual churches can compare with their database for direct contact.
Board Development
Occupation: Managerial – Executive
A first step in non-profit organization is the selection of the board. Boards not only provide administrative skills, but seed fundraising and preserve the core values of the organization. Where might you find potential leaders with relevant executive skills who share UMC core values?
This Opportunity Scan identifies UMC presence in areas with greatest population density for households with managerial or executive occupations. This helps you contact potential leaders, identify locations and potential hosts to share information, and target areas for initial capital fund raising.
Most non-profit outreach projects require the collaboration of multiple churches. Therefore, it is most helpful if every church in the city completes a PeoplePlot for their congregation.
You can use Opportunity Scan to research any datapoint listed in thematic mapping for people, households, families, diversity, housing, and work. This can include research for population trends, specific ages, ethnicities, languages, and lifestyles; incomes, type and size of households; marital status, family structure, phase of life, and education; type and size of housing, occupancy, rental and ownership; occupation and employment. When you add PeoplePlot to Opportunity Scan, you not only gain valuable information, but you also encourage opportunities for new and deeper relationships.