The Repository @ St. Cloud State

Open Access Knowledge and Scholarship

Date of Award

12-1999

Culminating Project Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Geography - Geographic Information Science: M.S.

Department

Geography and Planning

College

School of Public Affairs

First Advisor

Robert O. Bixby

Second Advisor

Jeffrey S. Torguson

Third Advisor

Mary E. Edwards

Keywords and Subject Headings

GIS, Nonprofit, Models, Community-based, GIS History, Boy Scouts of America, Indianhead Council

Abstract

There has been tremendous growth in the use of GIS by government agencies, industries and business over the last thirty years. GIS has moved from its origins with large, federal agencies to include both smaller and more diverse applications. This trickle-down effect has reached a level of use that includes small businesses and local governments. The potential benefit of GIS use by nonprofit organizations and grassroots community groups is great. However, their use of GIS - other than for conservation and environmental purposes - has not yet become widespread. Nonprofit organizations face many limitations of resources - time, money, staff, technology, volunteers, etc. Bringing a GIS specialist into their organization is often out of the question. However, the use of GIS for a particular problem or issue may be very relevant. How can these organizations access this tool for spatial analysis and graphic display, and yet stay within their means?

The environmental arena is the one nonprofit area that has a strong foundation in the use of GIS. This is in large part because many applications developed early on, such as for forestry and land use, were easily transferable to nonprofit organizations working in this field. These models emphasize a strong collaborative atmosphere and the sharing of software applications, along with technical support and assistance. Models of community-based technology assistance centers examined include those that simply provide basis technology skills within a neighborhood to those that collect data and provide GIS services to a large group of member organizations. Several models for GIS use by community nonprofit organizations are identified. These include developing inhouse GIS capabilities, partnerships with universities and the use of public GIS sites, among others. Each model offers possible solutions to accessing GIS, but also has constraints and limitations.

Benefits and barriers in the implementation of GIS within a nonprofit organization are presented through a case study of the lndianhead Boy Scout Council. This study examines issues faced by the nonprofit organization in its initial attempt to use GIS for project development. Significant factors, from communicating a general understanding of GIS for the non-user to development and implementation of the project are discussed. Technical aspects addressed include determining and delineating boundaries, data acquisition and manipulation, as well as data accuracy and software considerations. Additional issues common to many nonprofit and community-based groups include budget constraints and limited technology or GIS expertise.

Recommendations call for collaborative community models and GIS technology support centers. GIS and other appropriate technologies need to be made available and accessible to nonprofit organizations. This can be aided by collaboration, sharing of applications and best practices, and increasing the general awareness of how these tools can aid in fulfilling the goals and mission of the nonprofit organization.

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