Community Partner & StakeholderSurvey

Community Partner & Stakeholder Survey

2026 Community Needs Assessment
Community Action Organization of Western New York (CAO of WNY) is conducting its 2026 Community Needs Assessment. As a valued partner in our service network, your professional perspective helps us understand the needs, gaps, and strengths across the communities we serve. This survey takes about 10 minutes. Your organization's responses will be combined with community input to shape our priorities. Identifying your organization and sector helps us document that we gathered input from across all key sectors of the community; it will not be used to attribute opinions publicly.
Section A — About Your Organization
1. What is the name of the organization you represent? (optional)
2. What is your name and title? (optional)

First NameMiddle NameLast Name
Title
3. Which sector best describes your organization? (select one)

Other
4. What primary geographic area(s) do your programs serve? (check all that apply)

Other
5. What is your organization's relationship to CAO of WNY? (select one)

Other
Section B — Community Needs & Barriers
6. Based on your organization's daily work, what are the TOP THREE barriers currently facing low-income individuals and families in our service area? (select up to 3)
7. Which of the following services do NOT currently meet demand in our service area? (select up to 3)

Other
8. In your opinion, which sub-population in our community is currently the most underserved? (select one)
9. What emerging or rapidly escalating needs have you observed among the people you serve over the last 12 to 24 months?
10. What are the most challenging issues low-income households will face in the next three years? (select up to 3)
Section C — Service Coordination & Avoiding Duplication
11. Are there specific social services in our community that you believe are heavily duplicated?
If yes, please specify which services are duplicated:
12. How effectively does the current cross-referral network operate between social-service providers in our area? (select one)
13. What is the single biggest barrier preventing smoother, wrap-around collaboration between your organization and CAO of WNY?
Section D — Strengths, Changes & Partnership
14. What are the greatest strengths or positive aspects of our community that we should build on? (list up to 3)
15. Has your organization eliminated any service(s) in the past year?
If yes, please specify the eliminated services:
16. Are you aware of any impending funding cuts or changes that will affect your services?
If yes, what changes are expected and what impact do you anticipate?
17. Are there program areas within your organization that could benefit from a new or enhanced partnership with CAO of WNY? Please describe.
18. Do you have any recommendations on how CAO of WNY can better use its resources to support your organization's mission and the people we both serve?
19. As funding tightens, how interested is your organization in collaborative fundraising or joint funding efforts with CAO of WNY, such as shared grant applications, braided funding, or joint events to help sustain services in our community? (select one)
If interested, what funding areas or opportunities could we pursue together?
Section E — Follow-Up
20. Would you like to be contacted to discuss a new partnership or enhanced collaboration further?
Follow-Up Contact Name

First NameLast Name
Follow-Up Contact Organization
Follow-Up Contact Phone
Please enter a valid phone number.Format: (000) 000-0000.
Follow-Up Contact Email
example@example.com
Should be Empty:

Community Partner & Stakeholder Survey

Section A — About Your Organization

Section B — Community Needs & Barriers

Section C — Service Coordination & Avoiding Duplication

Section D — Strengths, Changes & Partnership

Section E — Follow-Up