Results from Heritage Fund's Welcoming Community Survey

Heritage Fund announces the results of the 2018 Welcoming Community survey. The survey was open to all Bartholomew County residents from September 10 to October 15 and covered the topics of: access to information, inclusivity, friendliness and ability to get involved, entertainment, equal opportunity and fair treatment for all, and sense of community. More than 1,770 people completed the survey. Survey analysis was led by Anna F. Carmon, Ph.D., associate professor and director of the Communication Studies Program in the Division of Liberal Arts at IUPUC, and a committee of Heritage Fund staff and board members and volunteers from the community.

Key findings from the survey (see full survey results here):

• Results showed overall improvement, though it was noted that Columbus as a whole is unevenly welcoming, particularly as it relates to those in lower socioeconomic classes, racial and ethnic minorities, and the LGBTQIA population.
• All minority racial/ethnic groups rated community inclusion below average overall, though the Hispanic population noted levels of perceived inclusivity and equality higher than any of the other minority groups.
• Access to information continues to be the area where the community desires the most improvement. Community members note a need for a common community calendar and access to community information in a timelier manner.

Analysis of the survey results generated five themes to guide Heritage Fund's continuous improvement efforts to become a more welcoming community.

1. Inclusivity – Improvements that have been made in diversity and inclusion are threatened by increasing polarization based on a wide range of factors such as socio-economic status, political association, culture, and length of residency in Columbus. Several survey respondents noted that being diverse is not the same as being inclusive and many marginalized groups highlighted problems in the community.
2. Community Engagement – Survey results indicated that it is difficult for some people to actively participate in the community both civically and socially. While people find the community generally friendly, the results highlighted increasing divisiveness based on a broad range of characteristics as a reason many find it challenging to get involved.
3. Entertainment – Nearly all agree there is a great deal to do in Columbus but many feel that the current entertainment offerings do not appeal to them.  Singles and individuals 21-39 years of age rated questions regarding entertainment the lowest. Several community members indicated a desire for more performing arts and theatre and large events that bring the whole community together.
4. Community Livability – Community members noted a variety of concerns about living in Columbus including lack of a downtown grocery, the drug problem and related safety issues, transportation, and insufficient safe and affordable housing.
5. Access to Information – The ability to access information about the community continues to be a challenge specifically related to civic life, community initiatives, and entertainment. Community members noted that while many organizations and city entities have websites and use social media it can be overwhelming because there is not a central, comprehensive location for community information.

Creating a more welcoming and inclusive community continues to be a priority of Heritage Fund. In 2016, the Heritage Fund Outreach Committee conducted a community scan to identify areas of impact to address through intentional grant funding and resource allocation. The five areas identified from the scan were: youth development, substance abuse, neighborhood revitalization, innovation and creativity, and welcoming community.  In the past two years, Heritage Fund has invested more than $2M to support communitywide initiatives in these areas including over $80,000 for welcoming community programming.

Over the next few months, survey results and themes will be presented to community groups and stakeholders. Funding for programs and initiatives addressing the themes of this survey will be considered through Heritage Fund’s grants program with targeted funding opportunities to be announced.

Anyone interested in learning more about the survey can contact Heritage Fund's grants manager Abbie Bush at 812-376-7772.

The 2018 Welcoming Community survey was the third survey of its kind conducted by Heritage Fund since 2004.  The original study in 2004 found that our community was perceived as welcoming by most people, but some demographic groups, including people outside of the traditional mainstream, young people and newcomers, found this was not the case. After working as a community to address the feedback received in the first survey, Heritage Fund conducted a second Welcoming Community survey in 2011 to determine if perceptions in the community had improved. 

As a result of the feedback from the first two surveys, our community now benefits from affinity groups such as Columbus Young Professionals and CAMEO, diversity councils within our education systems, the development of downtown community spaces such as The Commons, IUCA+D, Mill Race Center and Fourth Street, collective giving opportunities such as the Women’s Giving Circle and the African American Fund of Bartholomew County and more than $100,000 invested in the community through intentional grant-making to support Welcoming Community initiatives developed by local nonprofits.

About Heritage Fund

Heritage Fund – The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County was formed as a community foundation in 1976 with the purpose of continuing a legacy of giving by providing an opportunity for all citizens to make gifts and establish charitable funds to benefit the local community. It was created primarily to:  provide responsible stewardship of gifts donated for broad charitable purposes; promote leadership to address community issues; serve as a catalyst for positive change in partnership with others; and promote philanthropy broadly within the community.