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Capabilities Brochure | PDF
Community Profile Brochure | PDF
CGR at 100: A Remarkable Story | PDF
Our Distinguished History
Founded in 1915, CGR has been delivering expert support to the public, nonprofit and private sectors for a century. Originally, we were incorporated as the Rochester (NY) Bureau of Municipal Research, and were established by founder George Eastman with a mandate to “get things done for the community” we call home. Although our passion for delivering promising solutions has never changed, both the geographic area and clients we serve have broadened dramatically. Today we have a national reach and can be found working with a diverse range of agencies, organizations and communities.
Why Nonprofit?
In an arena served almost exclusively by for-profit consultancies, CGR stands apart. Since our founding, we have operated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, a status that insulates us from political bias and holds us accountable to our clients’ true shareholders – the communities they serve – positioning them as more desirable places to live and work.
Just like our clients, we’re in the business of making a difference.
Promising solutions
We have an outstanding track record for delivering strategic analysis, management guidance and implementation support to clients who need help that’s done right – the first time. At CGR, we have a passion for helping organizations and communities:
- By defining transformative solutions for governments; schools; nonprofits; and key business / civic initiatives.
- By applying research and analysis to address the most critical issues communities and regions face.
- By improving government management; advancing economic competitiveness; promoting fiscal sustainability; and encouraging responsive community institutions.
- And above all, by empowering positive change for our clients, their organizations and the communities they serve.
Our multi-disciplinary team brings deep policy, financial and analytical expertise, and an industry-leading reputation for objective, fact-based analysis and consulting in four practice areas:
CGR’s Strategic Focus
CGR refreshed our strategic framework in 2020-21 to explore ways to sharpen our focus and increase our impact. With the help of our consultant, Suzanne Piotrowski of Badfish Consulting, we talked with clients and community members to gain outside perspective and then worked with our board to deeply understand and define our values, purpose, and value proposition to clients and communities.
The framework we developed, illustrated below, elevates our commitment to equity, especially racial equity, and centers our focus on our mission and vision.
Mission
CGR drives positive community change through the highest quality research, analysis, data insights and collaboration.
Vision
Trusted for our rigorous analysis and actionable insights, we can transform any community to be more equitable, strong and thriving.
Values
Independence
Integrity
Collaboration
Respect
Inclusion
Equity