Asset Mapping: A Handbook

Resource Description

The Asset Mapping Handbook came out of a 2002 Canadian National Rural Conference that focused specifically on Community Capacity Building. While the Handbook was written from a rural and Canadian standpoint, the material is general enough to be useful in any community looking to undertake Asset Mapping. The Handbook specifically targets community leaders who will use Asset Mapping as a starting point for strategic planning, organizational development, community development, or some other initiative.

The Handbook describes in general the use for Asset Mapping in community planning, and outlines three specific approaches to Asset Mapping:

1. Whole Assets Approach: This comprehensive approach incorporates all of the assets, including natural, social, economic and service components, that are part of the community’s view of their surroundings.
2. Storytelling Approach: This approach combines separate, individual accounts to reveal community assets.
3. Heritage Approach: This approach focuses specifically on the built environment and produces a map, list, or other compilation of physical features that the community regards as assets.

The Handbook includes detailed meeting facilitation guidelines and suggestions for involving the community in each of the three approaches.

The Handbook was written by Tony Fuller, Denyse Guy, and Carolyn Pletsch.