When working in your CBO module or leveraging the CBO network to identify and engage organizations working in your community, PublicInput applies a standardized set of categories. Here we cover the basics of how these categories are setup, and where to learn more about category descriptions.
Working from an Industry-Standard Taxonomy for CBOs
PublicInput utilizes a comprehensive taxonomy tailored specifically for non-profit organizations. This taxonomy, developed by Candid, facilitates the categorization of CBOs across the United States and can be extended globally as the network expands.
For more detailed information on this taxonomy, visit the full listing of categories here.
The Short List of "Primary" CBO Categories
Out of over 800 taxonomic categories available in the Candid subject code taxonomy, PublicInput focuses on approximately 20 high-level categories considered most relevant for common public engagement contexts:
Antidiscrimination |
Arts and culture |
Business and industry |
Civic Organization |
Communication media |
Community and economic development |
Clubs |
Democracy |
Economic development |
Higher education |
Housing development |
Information and communications |
Libraries |
Local Government |
Minority Organization |
Parent-teacher involvement |
Public safety |
Religion |
These primary categories are displayed more prominently than the hundreds of other categories on the Equity Mapping interface and the CRM Organizations tab.
Custom Categories note: If you add your own custom categories as part of an uploaded import of CBO data, these custom categories will also appear as primary in the Equity Mapping and CRM organizations interface.
To add your custom category, simply include it in the "Organization Type" column of your organization spreadsheet upload.
CBO Sub-Categories and Viewing Their Descriptions in the Spreadsheet
Each primary category encompasses several sub-categories, providing a granular view of the types of organizations within each group. Both parent and child categories are included to ensure comprehensive coverage.
For a detailed look at these categories, including their descriptions, refer to the 'All Categories' tab in the provided spreadsheet. Find categories are designated as primary (indicated by a green 'true' box) and which are secondary sub-categories:
Viewing Secondary Categories Assigned to an Organization
Primary categories include broader sectors such as 'Arts and Culture,' under which specific types such as 'History Museums' are categorized as sub-categories.
When interacting with the PublicInput platform, such as toggling on a layer in the Equity Mapping interface or CRM, primary or custom categories will be displayed in the menus and organization listings. To view sub-categories assigned to an organization, open the organization's profile from the Equity Map or CRM interface.
Secondary subjects as primary categories in PublicInput
Certain categories, like Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) are included due to their significant community engagement impact. It's worth noting that although PTA's are a sub-category of education, we include them as a primary top-level category because of their unique fit for community engagement.
Feedback and Updates
PublicInput is committed to continuously refining and expanding the CBO taxonomy to better serve community engagement needs. We would love to hear your feedback! Drop us a note using the chat tool in the corner.