Knight Foundation Community Survey –
A new research effort to understand what helps communities thrive

Knight Foundation is launching a new research initiative focused on measuring community well-being. As part of this effort, Knight is partnering with NORC at the University of Chicago (NORC) to conduct a survey in selected Knight communities.

The initiative has two goals: (1) to provide residents, community organizations and local leaders with useful information to help set priorities and accelerate progress on solutions to local issues and (2) to build knowledge about the drivers of community well-being nationwide.

The survey will explore residents’ experiences and perspectives across a range of local topics to better understand what residents believe makes their community a great place to live and what challenges need more attention.

This survey is part of Knight Foundation’s ongoing commitment to its 26 communities. Building on decades of support for projects and organizations that help Knight communities thrive, the research is designed to provide local leaders with publicly available insights and data to help address local challenges, while deepening Knight’s understanding of local priorities and informing its future investments.

This year’s survey represents the initial pilot phase of the research. Its purpose is to test strategies and methods for understanding and measuring community well-being in ways that are useful to residents, community organizations and local leaders. As part of the pilot, we have selected eight of our 26 Knight communities to participate in the research. We will use what we learn from this survey to inform a broader rollout across all 26 communities, with the goal of providing consistent, updated insights and tracking changes over time.

The survey uses two recruitment approaches: randomly selected residents will receive invitations by postcard or text, while trusted local organizations will share the survey through their networks. Comparing these approaches will help us understand how best to reach a broad range of residents and will inform the rollout across all 26 communities.

Although the primary goal of this pilot is to test strategies and methods for the larger initiative, we are committed to ensuring that the survey results are as reliable, accurate and representative as possible. The results will be made publicly available for residents and local leaders to use.

The eight communities in this pilot phase will be: Aberdeen, South Dakota (Brown County); Boulder County, Colorado; Charlotte, North Carolina; Columbia, South Carolina (Richland County); Gary, Indiana; Miami, Florida (Miami-Dade County); San Jose, California; and St. Paul, Minnesota.

Residents, local organizations, and civic leaders need to understand what matters most to residents in order to inform priorities and decision-making. This survey is part of a larger, multiyear initiative designed to do just that. Unlike traditional one-time surveys, this study is intended to be updated regularly, giving residents and local leaders an ongoing view of community assets and needs and how they change over time. Results will be shared publicly, equipping residents, organizations and leaders with local insights to help shape the future of their community.

Local organizations are often among the most trusted and well-connected institutions in their communities, giving you a unique opportunity to help ensure that a broad range of residents is represented in the survey. By sharing the survey with the people you serve, you can help elevate voices that are often underrepresented and bring residents’ experiences, priorities and perspectives to the attention of local leaders and stakeholders.

The survey will launch on August 19. If you are a local organization in one of the participating Knight cities and would like to share the survey with local residents, please reach out to CommunityWellbeing@norc.org.

• Who: Residents 18 and older who live in the initial set of communities selected for this phase of the research, listed below
• Where: Eight communities in this initial phase — Aberdeen, South Dakota (Brown County); Boulder County, Colorado; Charlotte, North Carolina; Columbia, South Carolina (Richland County); Gary, Indiana; Miami, Florida (Miami-Dade County); San Jose, California; and St. Paul, Minnesota
• When: Outreach begins August 19 2026; survey will close by October 2026 (though it may close early once enough responses are received)
• Length: About 15 minutes, online, available in English and Spanish
• Privacy: Participation is voluntary, responses are anonymous and confidential and results are reported only in aggregate
• Topics: Social connections, arts and culture, safety and public spaces, education, civic participation, local news and information and health care

Survey results will be made available to the public and shared with residents, community leaders, and local partners to help inform and accelerate local solutions. Knight and NORC will use the findings to guide future research, including efforts to expand the survey to all Knight communities. We’re committed to listening, sharing what we learn, and using these insights to inform projects that support vibrant communities.

Individual survey responses will be kept confidential. NORC takes steps to protect participants’ privacy, and no identifying information will be shared with anyone outside the NORC research team. Findings will be reported only in summary form and will not include any identifiable information.

The study is being conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago in partnership with Knight Foundation. NORC is a nonpartisan, nonprofit research organization with more than 80 years of experience conducting high-quality surveys for government, nonprofit, and social service organizations. Knight Foundation chose NORC to conduct the survey because of its expertise and commitment to objective, credible research. NORC will not try to sell you anything and is not affiliated with any political interests.

You can learn more about the study on NORC’s project page.

Local organizations in the pilot communities listed below can help residents learn about the survey by sharing approved materials through their existing networks.

The pilot communities are:

Aberdeen, South Dakota (Brown County); Boulder County, Colorado; Charlotte, North Carolina; Columbia, South Carolina (Richland County); Gary, Indiana; Miami, Florida (Miami-Dade County); San Jose, California; and St. Paul, Minnesota.

Click here to access a detailed outreach guide with downloadable materials and best practices.

• Questions about the survey: CommunityWellbeing@norc.org

• Questions about outreach and communications: communications@kf.org