Community Benefit 101

Community Benefit 101: The Nuts and Bolts of Planning and Reporting Community Benefit

Planning and reporting community benefit are key functions of Catholic-sponsored and other not-for-profit health care organizations. The Catholic Health Association's highly regarded Community Benefit 101 program provides new community benefit professionals and others who want to learn about community benefit with the basics of community benefit programing. This training is provided annually.

Community Benefit 101 Virtual Training:
Oct. 21, 22, 23, 2025 (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) 2 to 5 p.m. ET daily
Program and registration information coming soon.

This virtual program is taught by experienced community benefit leaders and provides ample opportunities for participant questions and engagement as well as access to practical tools and resources.

Participants in this virtual gathering will receive:

  • A copy of CHA's A Guide for Planning and Reporting Community Benefit.
  • 24/7 access to recorded presentations and resources after the live event.

The CB 101 virtual conference sessions will cover:

  • How community benefit demonstrates the organization's mission.
  • The latest news on tax exemption/community benefit public policy issues.
  • Requirements for Community Health Needs Assessment and Implementation Strategies.
  • Steps for planning and evaluating community benefit programs.
  • Policies needed to support community benefit programs.
  • What counts and doesn't count as community benefit.
  • Community benefit accounting principles.
  • How to tell the community benefit story.

Who Should Attend
While it is designed for new community benefit professionals, the virtual format makes this meeting accessible to a wider audience, including:

  • Staff in mission, finance/tax, population health, strategic planning, diversity and inclusion, communications, government relations, and compliance who want to learn about the important relationship between their work and community benefit/community health.
  • Veteran community benefit staff who want a refresher course to update them on current practices, inspire future activities and connect with others in nonprofit health care doing this work.
  • Community partners, consultants and researchers who want to learn more about not-for-profit hospital community benefit processes and requirements.
Program Agenda
The program is provided across 3-days from 2-5 pm ET

Day 1:
Welcome and Reflection
Community Benefit: The Mission Imperative
The Public Policy Imperative
Building a Sustainable Infrastructure

Day 2:
Welcome and Reflection
Requirements for What Counts and Accounting
What Counts and Accounting for Community Benefit
Telling the Community Benefit Story

Day 3:
Welcome and Reflection
Overview of Assessment, Planning and Evaluation Requirements
Case Study Introduction
Community Health Needs Assessment and Priority Setting
Planning to Address and Addressing Community Health Needs
Evaluating Impact
Getting Started