Research, Innovation & Economic Development

Turn evidence into stronger programs and economic opportunity.

CAS Foundation supports community organizations, entrepreneurs, institutions, and partners with research, market intelligence, program planning, impact measurement, and practical economic development insights.

Request Research Support Explore the research areas →

For nonprofits, community organizations, entrepreneurs, institutions, funders, and partners developing evidence-informed initiatives.

Presenter sharing economic and industry information at a professional event
Better evidence. Stronger decisions. Understand needs, test ideas, measure outcomes, and plan initiatives with greater clarity and confidence.
Community Research Understand needs, barriers, priorities, and opportunities.
Market Intelligence Study customers, industries, competitors, and emerging trends.
Impact Measurement Define outcomes and track meaningful program results.
Economic Development Turn evidence into practical initiatives and partnerships.
Who This Program Supports

Research designed for real community and economic questions.

CAS helps organizations and entrepreneurs define the right question, organize available information, and develop practical recommendations.

01

Nonprofits and community organizations

Understand community needs, design stronger programs, prepare funding evidence, evaluate outcomes, and improve services.

02

Entrepreneurs and small businesses

Explore markets, assess business opportunities, understand customers, study competitors, and support planning decisions.

03

Institutions and community partners

Develop collaborative research, community consultations, innovation pilots, economic initiatives, and measurable partnership outcomes.

Research & Innovation Areas

Practical evidence for planning, funding, and growth.

Support may include research guidance, data review, community engagement tools, planning templates, analysis, reports, and referrals to specialized professionals.

01

Community Needs Research

Identify community priorities, service gaps, barriers, assets, demographic patterns, lived experiences, and opportunities for stronger support.

02

Market & Industry Intelligence

Review industries, customers, demand, competitors, trends, risks, and opportunities that may affect a business or economic initiative.

03

Feasibility & Opportunity Studies

Examine whether an idea is practical by reviewing needs, market conditions, costs, risks, operating requirements, and possible pathways.

04

Program Design & Evaluation

Clarify program goals, target participants, activities, outputs, outcomes, indicators, data sources, and evaluation questions.

05

Impact Measurement

Develop practical indicators, surveys, feedback tools, tracking systems, dashboards, and reporting approaches that demonstrate progress.

06

Grant & Funding Research

Identify possible funders, examine program alignment, organize eligibility information, and strengthen evidence used in funding applications.

The CAS Research Process

A clear path from question to action.

The scope and process depend on the research question, available information, timeline, capacity, partnership, and funding.

Step 1

Define

Clarify the challenge, question, audience, and intended decision.

Step 2

Collect

Identify credible data, documents, surveys, and community input.

Step 3

Analyze

Review patterns, gaps, risks, needs, strengths, and opportunities.

Step 4

Recommend

Translate findings into realistic options and next steps.

Step 5

Measure

Define indicators and track progress after implementation.

Possible Research Outputs

Information presented in a format people can use.

Outputs are selected according to the question, available evidence, project scope, intended audience, and resources.

  • Community needs assessment or consultation summary
  • Market, customer, competitor, or industry research brief
  • Feasibility or opportunity assessment
  • Program logic model and evaluation framework
  • Surveys, interview guides, and feedback tools
  • Impact indicators, tracking sheets, or dashboard plan
  • Grant and funding landscape research
  • Research report with findings and recommendations
Responsible Innovation

Technology should strengthen—not replace—community knowledge.

CAS may use digital tools, data analysis, and artificial intelligence to organize information and support research. Human review, privacy, transparency, fairness, and community context remain essential.

Use credible and relevant information sources
Protect confidential and personal information
Review AI-generated findings before use
Include community voices and lived experience
Explain limitations and avoid unsupported claims
Our Research Principles

Evidence must be useful, respectful, and accountable.

Community-centred Research should reflect the experiences and priorities of the people affected.
Practical Findings should support decisions, programs, partnerships, or economic action.
Transparent Sources, assumptions, limitations, and methods should be clearly explained.
Ethical Privacy, dignity, consent, safety, and responsible data use must be protected.
For Funders & Research Partners

Help communities build evidence for stronger investment.

Research partnerships, funding, academic expertise, data access, technology, student placements, community consultation support, and evaluation capacity can help CAS expand this program.

Community research projects completed
Needs assessments and consultations delivered
Organizations supported with impact frameworks
Market and feasibility studies developed
Research partnerships and publications created
Frequently Asked Questions

Before you submit a request.

Who can request research support?
Requests may come from nonprofits, community groups, entrepreneurs, institutions, funders, researchers, and partners. The type of support available depends on CAS capacity, alignment, funding, expertise, and project scope.
Does CAS conduct academic research?
CAS focuses mainly on applied community, program, market, and economic research. Academic or formal research projects may require qualified research partners, institutional review, ethics approval, or specialized expertise.
Can CAS prepare a feasibility study?
CAS may provide research guidance, templates, market information, planning support, or selected feasibility assessments. Availability depends on the project, data, timeline, expertise, and resources.
Does CAS guarantee that a grant application will succeed?
No. CAS may provide funding research, readiness education, evidence, templates, and referrals. No research or application support can guarantee funding, approval, investment, or partnership selection.
Will the information I provide remain confidential?
CAS aims to handle information responsibly and collect only what is necessary. Do not submit confidential financial records, passwords, private client files, health records, or identifying personal data through the initial request form.
Are research services free?
Some community activities may be free or subsidized. Larger, customized, or partner-led projects may require funding, a project agreement, or cost recovery. Any conditions will be explained before work begins.
Research Support Request

Tell us about the question you are trying to answer.

Complete the request form below. Your answers will help CAS understand the organization, project, research question, intended audience, available information, timeline, and expected outcome.

Please note

Submitting a request does not guarantee acceptance, funding, partnership, publication, data access, or completion by a specific date. CAS will review the request based on mission alignment, capacity, expertise, resources, privacy, and project scope.