Client Story
Location
Industry
Need
Project
Marco Island Community Needs Assessment “Snapshot”
The Challenge
Marco Island is a barrier island city in Collier County on Florida’s southwestern coast. This unique community sees its residents more than double in the winter months during peak season. Its population is characterized by a high proportion of older adults who are retired. Many employees who work on the island commute in from outside communities. Due to its geographical location, accessing community services not available on the island can be challenging for some residents. The city’s position near the ocean also makes it particularly vulnerable to natural disasters like hurricanes and flooding.
Marco Island’s unique population and geography result in unique needs for this community. Collier Community Foundation conducts a Community Needs Assessment to better understand data on needs in the county overall, but they identified a need to build on this assessment to better understand the needs of Marco Island more specifically, so that they could be shared with the community to amplify awareness and mobilize support.
The Solution
Collier Community Foundation hired TCG to expand on their existing Community Needs Assessment work for the county to develop a local Community Needs Snapshot specific to Marco Island. This snapshot uses public data and community feedback from 20 nonprofit leaders and 350 residents to capture Marco Island’s most urgent community needs. The report also highlights potential solutions to those needs for the community to consider, and opportunities to strengthen local nonprofits’ capacity to address needs.
Key community needs identified in the report include:
- Access to workforce housing
- Access to mental health care
- Natural disaster resilience
- Growth management
This snapshot builds on Collier Community Foundation’s strength as a community convener and local engine to drive community resources towards the most critical needs in Collier County. This snapshot report enables them to better share the story of Marco Island’s community needs with nonprofit partners and funders, and better positions them to advocate for resources and solutions to address those needs.
Our Role
TCG worked closely with Collier Community Foundation to engage stakeholders and partners to complete the Marco Island Community Snapshot.
- TCG analyzed, summarized, and presented community feedback data from Marco Island residents gathered in the Community Needs Assessment process
- TCG conducted interviews with key Marco Island leaders, using feedback to add greater context and insight to community needs data
- TCG developed, deployed, and analyzed a survey of non-profit organizations serving Marco Island, gathering their feedback on community needs and potential solutions
- TCG researched and compiled public data to better understand community needs in Marco Island
- TCG gathered community insights and public data to develop a formal written report summarizing Marco Island’s community needs
The Outcomes
The result is a clear, community-informed picture of where Marco Island stands today—and where it can go next. Collier Community Foundation, their partners, and the Marco Island community in general have a better understanding of the most urgent needs in their community.
- With this study, the Foundation is better equipped to tell the story of Marco Island and advocate for resources and solutions to make progress on identified needs.
- These findings will help guide strategic investments, strengthen local initiatives, and support a more resilient, thriving community for years to come.
