Community Design Center Rochester

What it reported doing in 2025

1. ReShaping Rochester Speaker SeriesIn 2025, Community Design Center Rochester (CDCR) presented the 19th Annual ReShaping Rochester Speaker Series, continuing its long-standing community education program focused on the built environment. The four-part series explored how Media, Education, Technology, and Food shape our communities and brought together local and nationally recognized speakers, residents, design professionals, community leaders, and decision-makers. The season concluded with the annual ReShaping Rochester Luncheon in June. Through the series, CDCR creates accessible opportunities for education and dialogue about the decisions and forces shaping Rochester and the surrounding region. Our series is recorded and videos posted on YouTube (65 in total) at www.youtube.com\@rrcdc2. El Camino Revitalization Area Vision Plan UpdateCDCR continued its work with residents and community partners to advance the El Camino (city's northeast quadrant) Revitalization Vison Plan Update, building upon the community engagement process initiated in 2015. CDCR completed the original El Camino Vision Plan in 2016. Post 2020 Covid pandemic, local leaders saw successes in housing and job creation, along with continued challenges with social and economic conditions, and felt the time was right to update the community vision plan. The plan identifies community priorities and opportunities related to housing, commercial corridors, public spaces, recreation, transportation, connectivity, and neighborhood improvements. The project reflects CDCR's commitment to designing with communities, not for them, using engagement and design expertise to translate community priorities into practical recommendations for the built environment.3. ReImagine ROC Housing InitiativeHousing became a major focus of CDCR's work in 2025. In partnership with the Greater Rochester Association of REALTORS (GRAR) and other community stakeholders, CDCR advanced the ReImagine ROC Housing initiative to explore housing choice, affordability, and expanding production throughout Monroe County and the Finger Lakes. A November 2025 workshop brought together professionals and community stakeholders to discuss housing needs, development challenges, and potential solutions. This work established the foundation for continued housing production, community engagement, and design initiatives in 2026.4. Community Planning, Advisory & Youth Design EngagementCDCR remained actively involved in community planning and design initiatives throughout Rochester, providing opportunities for residents, organizations, and young people to participate in shaping the built environment. CDCR continued its commitment to the Inner Loop North Advisory Committee, contributing community design and engagement expertise to this significant planning initiative and supporting an inclusive process that considers the needs and priorities of surrounding neighborhoods and the broader Rochester community.Additional work included development of the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum Master Plan, educational and design activities through RMSC Curiosity Camp, and continued involvement in conversations surrounding High Falls State Park. Together, these efforts demonstrate our ongoing role as a community planning and design resource and its commitment to ensuring that community voices are meaningfully represented in planning and design decisions.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 98%; rating input score 98
• Program expense ratio: 84.6%; rating input score 85

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 52nd percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -15.7%; rating input score 9; 9th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.49; rating input score 37; 37th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.02; rating input score 32; 32nd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 30.9%; rating input score 12; 12th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 2.7% per year; rating input score 100; 37th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: -3.5% per year; rating input score 0; 10th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 1.9% per year; rating input score 100; 32nd percentile among comparable filings