Introducing IP3 ASSESS Focus: Focus Where It Counts, Smarter Insights for Communities

At IP3, we build capacity for transformative change through movement from community insight to concerted action. We do this through a tailored, collaborative approach. IP3 ASSESS is our web-based solution, designed and built specifically for changemakers using data to drive community change. It includes access to a robust list of data indicators, interactive maps, and simple, shareable reporting to create online data dashboards tailored to your needs. 

We’ve been partnering with folks using IP3 ASSESS for over a decade, and we’re always seeking ways to improve the platform, increase interoperability with other software, enhance usability, and, most importantly, connect community data and assessment more directly to on-the-ground work. 

IP3 ASSESS Focus

We’re excited to introduce IP3 ASSESS Focus, a new IP3 ASSESS feature that enhances how users analyze and compare data across geographies to prioritize where impact matters most. 

While IP3 ASSESS already enables comparisons of local data with state and national benchmarks, IP3 ASSESS Focus enables deeper, more customized analysis that helps organizations prioritize investments, programs, and resources across multiple geographies. With IP3 ASSESS Focus, users can customize a list of indicators and select the methodology and weighting of those indicators to reflect their own organizational frameworks, or priorities in alignment with their goals. This flexibility helps organizations better-understand where to direct attention and resources for the greatest impact.

Simply put, IP3 ASSESS Focus helps changemakers apply their priorities across communities to see where needs are most urgent and where there’s existing capacity to build on. Through IP3 ASSESS Focus, changemakers can: 

• Make data-informed funding and investment decisions

• Create a clear, defensible methodology for stakeholders and funders

• Save time and resources by simplifying complex data comparisons

• Build consensus among partners with a shared framework

Together, IP3 ASSESS and IP3 ASSESS Focus provide access to the best of both worlds—a standard U.S. or state benchmark view of information for context, as well as a customized Focus view that seamlessly integrates with organizational processes and guides decision-making.

How it Works

• Select Geographies: Choose the neighborhoods, counties, districts, or regions to compare.

• Identify Data: Identify indicators from IP3’s library or integrate your own data.

• Define Measures: Determine the methodology (z-score, rank, quintile) used to measure each indicator with the help of IP3. 

• Set Priorities: Assign weights and labels to reflect organizational goals.

• Generate Insights: View clear, visual results on a customizable and shareable Focus dashboard (e.g., red/yellow/green outputs)

  
  

  

  Example IP3 ASSESS Focus output (each column represents one geographic area or community)

IP3 ASSESS Focus in Practice

The Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s Midwest Early Recovery Fund uses IP3 ASSESS Focus to accelerate and improve their disaster recovery efforts. The Midwest Early Recovery Fund supports equitable, sustainable recovery from disasters in a 10-state region. The fund helps communities transition from disaster response to community-led recovery and resiliency. The region’s small, rural communities often experience “low attention” disasters where recovery resources are scarce.

The Midwest Early Recovery Fund uses IP3 ASSESS Focus to prioritize post-disaster recovery funding by scoring affected communities with a custom set of data indicators and weighting. When a disaster occurs, the team collects impact data and compares it against each community’s baseline vulnerability and capacity to respond. IP3 ASSESS Focus then organizes communities into high, medium, or low priority for recovery funding. This approach enables faster, more informed decisions, targeted investment, and streamlined impact reporting for disaster relief and recovery. 

Screenshot of the IP3 ASSESS Focus output (each column represents one geographic area (community) affected))

Are you interested in applying IP3 ASSESS Focus to your change model? Send us a note to learn more and schedule a demo!