In order to examine the current characteristics of the organizational field of Villages in the United States, researchers conducted a survey in which all operational US Villages were asked to report details on their Village for the calendar year 2015, or as of January 1, 2016. Areas of inquiry included Village models, member characteristics, geographic location, human resources, financial resources, collaborations, and confidence in sustainability. Villages were considered eligible for the survey if they (1) considered themselves a Village, (2) had officially “launched” and were providing at least some services to members as of January 1, 2016, and (3) were located within the United States. When the survey was closed on July 15, 2016, a total of 115 of 155 eligible Villages had completed the survey, for a response rate of 74%. In order to assess changes to the Village organizational field over time, a special effort was made to recruit all Villages that had participated in a previous 2012 National Survey of Villages. 1 Of the 69 Villages that participated in the 2012 survey, all but 9 were invited to participate. (Those that were no longer listed on the Village to Village website or confirmed nonoperational or had transformed into another type of organization were excluded.) A total of 41 Villages completed both the 2012 and 2016 surveys for a retention rate of 85%. This report includes the descriptive results of the 2016 survey as well as noting where there are statistically significant differences from the 2012 survey. // (2017)
