QUESTION:
I know that I have to focus the attention of my organization on the future. Asset mapping sounds like an interesting approach, but how long does it take? And will it be really useful?

Vicki Luther
Co-Director
Asset mapping can be done easily if you have an identified interest area or topic. For example, if your organization is focused on creating small businesses, an asset mapping effort would certainly help identify many types of people, associations or clubs, and institutions that might be brought to bear on that topic. It´s very useful to key into resources that might otherwise be overlooked.

Milan Wall
Co-Director
Remember the classic SWOT approach (that´s identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats)? Asset mapping, I think, helps to match up strengths with opportunities. It´s a way to plan based on positive information and can be done in one or two work sessions with a planning group.

Jim Sanks
Program Associate
If you use asset mapping as a frame for a conversation or brainstorming session, it can be informal and quick. Expanded into person-to-person interviews and other types of research can extend the time line quite a bit. We´ve done both types of asset mapping-informal and formal-and it really depends on the depth of information that´s needed.

Reggi Carlson
Development Specialist
Just as you would take a look at who can help with a project, asset mapping can be used to target people, groups and institutions that have never been involved in your organization before. It´s a technique that has the added benefit of including all parts of the community.