Skip to main content
All CollectionsCommunity Based Organizations (CBOs)
Using the Community-based Organizations module and network
Using the Community-based Organizations module and network

A primer and table of contents for learning to use the CBO module and CBO network in PublicInput.

Jay Dawkins avatar
Written by Jay Dawkins
Updated over 7 months ago

CBOs are essential to engagement but are underutilized

Community groups have long been a critical element in public engagement outreach. When we surveyed public engagement practitioners, over 80% said community groups are a vital part of their outreach strategy, but only 10% had a central way of managing CBO information.

Based on research from our 2023 National Resident Engagement Survey, residents are twice as likely to engage when public organizations reach out to them through a group they affiliate with. Unlocking that potential represents a significant opportunity for public organizations to build trust, increase engagement, and elevate the role of community groups in civic engagement.

Two CBO tools to leverage in PublicInput:

1. The Community-Based Organizations module

The community-based organizations module is a central system of record for managing:

  1. Organizational details

  2. Geographical areas served

  3. Key contacts

The module is directly integrated into the Equity Mapping toolkit and your resident database. It is included out-of-the-box for all accounts on the Engage or Engage+ plans.

2. The CBO Network

We know data management is only half of the equation. You need to know what groups are working in your community!

That’s why we’ve compiled a database of over 500,000 community-based organizations, key contacts, and geographic information on where they operate. All groups are categorized using a standardized taxonomy.

This network is designed to foster collaboration and information sharing across state, regional, city, and county lines. For example, suppose a city planner identifies an important stakeholder group. In that case, it can share that group with in-network peers at the county, transit, DOT, and MPO organizations that serve its residents.

Equity Mapping and Community-Based Organizations

Getting access:

What plans include the CBO Module?

The CBO Module is a beta feature and can be enabled on request for organizations on the PublicInput Engage and Engage Plus plan. If you have a legacy plan or a Listen plan account, your Customer Success Manager (CSM) can provide options for turning on the CBO module in the near term.

What plans include the CBO Network access?

CBO Network access is an add-on that can be optionally added to your plan. Network access includes unlimited usage of network organization and contact data during your subscription period, along with annual updates to PublicInput-sourced network organizations and contacts.

Getting started: Adding organizations into the CBO module

Exploring and using the CBO Module

Managing CBO Contacts

Building CBO Lists

Did this answer your question?