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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.
Help increase CGR's impact in the community
As you know, our mission to enable positive community change through the highest quality research, analysis, data insight and collaboration remains vitally important. Your support of CGR allows us to invest in our staff and ensure that our capabilities match community needs, so that we can continue to support the organizations and initiatives working to meet today’s numerous challenges.
In 2023, some of our key efforts focused on:
- Climate: We are working with the Climate Solutions Accelerator to develop climate indicators for the ACT Rochester website, and to explore workforce opportunities and challenges as the regional economy transitions toward clean energy.
- Philanthropic impact: We are partnering with ESL Foundation to develop measures of impact from its growing regional grantmaking.
- Food insecurity: We are investigating new, private sector-based solutions to food insecurity throughout Upstate New York with the New York University Stern Center for Sustainable Business in a project funded by Mother Cabrini Health Foundation.
- Public safety: We are working in more than 10 communities across and beyond New York State to help rethink and in some cases restructure fire, EMS, ambulance and police services to ensure they can sustainably meet residents’ needs.
- Transportation options and safety: We are supporting Reconnect Rochester by developing indicators for ACT Rochester that track public transit, bicycle options and the safety of our roads for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.
- Upward mobility: We work with the Rochester-Monroe Anti-Poverty Initiative to foster upward mobility in our community so that residents have not only more income and ability to meet their basic needs but also power, autonomy, and a sense of belonging.
CGR uses philanthropic donations to keep our nonprofit research and consulting practice strong and responsive to our community’s most pressing challenges. We thank you for your support!
Erika Rosenberg
President and CEO