Holistic community development is better understood as ideal-concept rather than organizational practice. A holistic perspective recognizes the interdependence of factors—such as social, economic, environmental, and cultural needs—and seeks to create synergies among them, fostering a more resilient, vibrant, and thriving community for all. As practiced, development programs (with a holistic perspective) are effective by focusing on specific issues—collectively, different programs will affect holistic development.
Community Opportunity Alliance
As an alliance, we mobilize support for community development organizations’ work to create stronger, healthier, and more prosperous communities. We believe that a stronger community development field leads to thriving communities across the country. Local community development organizations work in low- and moderate-income communities to develop affordable housing and commercial space, support small business development, and provide social services. We represent the community development field in Washington, D.C. with the federal government and major philanthropic organizations. The relationships we build and fortify anchor our advocacy work, gaining support for community developers and their communities. We Engage Private Funders to Support Community Development: We educate banks, private foundations, and corporations about the value of community development, providing data on its impact and potential. By introducing new funders to our field and bolstering the support of existing funders, we expand resources for community developers across the country.