Community Investment & Environmental Justice

Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center Benefits Study 
Funder: The Salvation Army 
Project Time Period: 2015-2016

Project Category: Health/Summative Evaluation

About the Benefits Study: MAI assisted Partners for Sacred Places in their evaluation of the Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Centers nationwide to assess the centers’ benefits.  

The Work: MAI’s contribution focused on assessing and monetizing the value of the benefits of the centers for communities and participants, as well as the staffs’ contributions to the community.  User intercept surveys were used to collect data on participation in the center’s programs and the perceived benefits of participation, including social supports, weight loss, and improvements in nutrition to name a few. These reported benefits were then monetized, where appropriate. Staff surveys were administered to explore the financial contributions staff members made in the community.    

What We Learned: Overall, the Kroc centers included in this study make a significant economic impact on the communities in which they are located. These 25 centers as a whole contribute $325,987,386.95 in benefits through direct and induced spending, fostering better health, and providing free or subsidized membership, indoor and outdoor space, volunteer hours, and in-kind support to community-serving programs, and $1,797,612,753.49 in construction direct and induced spending.