Because most nonprofits operate at fixed locations, sites must be known to residents and within a reasonable distance. The majority of community-based organizations are clustered in the northern portion of Lake County. Although nonprofits are located throughout Lake County, they tend to be more heavily concentrated in the northern portion of the county, particularly in Gary. Congregations are particularly prevalent in Gary. Nearly 40 percent of faith related groups in Lake County are located in Gary, compared with 25 percent of secular nonprofits.
Nonprofit organizations are relatively scarce in high poverty neighborhoods.
About one in five community-based groups in Lake County are sited in a high poverty area where the poverty rate exceeds 30 percent. This finding suggests that foundations, public officials, and those interested in redeveloping the economic and civic capacity of Gary may have a limited set of nonprofit organizations with which to partner. Child-related and social welfare nonprofits tend to be located in high and moderate income neighborhoods. Like other nonprofit providers, social welfare and youth groups tend to be located in the northern portion of the county, especially in Hammond, Munster, and Highland and, to a lesser degree, in Gary. But even within Gary, these groups are likely to avoid the poorest sections of the city.