What We Do
Community Development Institute (CDI) partners with organizations and systems to strengthen leadership, build organizational capacity, and support effective service delivery in communities within systems that serve children and families. Since 1970, CDI has supported mission‑driven work in complex environments, helping partners navigate change, stabilize operations, and build the foundations for long‑term success.
We are a nonprofit partner grounded in practice. CDI combines hands‑on experience with strategic expertise, enabling us to support organizations not only in planning for the future, but in delivering results in real‑world conditions where continuity and accountability matter.
An Organization Built for Change
CDI works most often in environments where the stakes are high and clarity, continuity, and trust are essential. Our partners include federal agencies, community‑based organizations, and service providers operating within regulatory, fiscal, and operational constraints.
What sets CDI apart is our ability to:
- Step in quickly and responsibly when stability is needed
- Work alongside leaders and teams during periods of transition or growth
- Balance accountability requirements with respect for local context
- Address immediate needs while strengthening long‑term capacity
Core Areas of Work
CDI works within systems that serve children, families, and communities, particularly where program stability, accountability, and operational readiness are essential. We are most often engaged in environments experiencing transition, disruption, or changing oversight requirements.
Our work focuses on:
Early Childhood and Family‑Serving Programs
Including child care and Head Start and Early Head Start systems, where continuity of services, leadership stability, and compliance with state and federal standards are critical.
Food and Nutrition Programs
Supporting programs that require strong operational integrity, effective management systems, and adherence to federal and state requirements.
Facilities and Physical Infrastructure
Providing support related to facilities used for child care and other family‑serving programs, including facility assessments and stewardship of public investments.
Systems Undergoing Transition or Change
Partnering with organizations and agencies navigating leadership changes or provider transitions where clarity, coordination, and trust are essential.
At the heart of CDI’s work is a strengths‑based philosophy. We approach partnerships with the belief that organizations and communities already possess the assets needed for success. Our role is to help surface, strengthen, and connect those assets in service of shared goals.
This approach promotes:
- Engagement rather than compliance
- Learning and self-assessment
- Problem‑solving grounded in trust and respect
- Solutions that are locally meaningful and durable
By focusing on people while strengthening the systems around them, CDI supports changes that endure beyond our direct involvement.
