Cobalt Community Research

Welcome to Cobalt Community Research!

Cobalt Community Research is a 501c3 non-profit coalition created to help governmental and not-for-profit organizations measure, benchmark, and manage their efforts through high-quality affordable surveys, focus groups, and facilitated meetings. In addition, Cobalt uncovers trends, innovations and best practices across many fields to help organizations thrive as changes emerge in the economic, demographic and social landscape.

Now Available: Cobalt Citizen Satisfaction Index

Cobalt Citizen Satisfaction Index: World-class citizen research for enhancing local government
Local governments struggle to balance scarce resources with service level improvements. With high-quality customer satisfaction metrics, organizations can use solid data to support resource allocation decisions, improve services, measure progress, and build public trust. Click here to learn more, or click "get started" below and select "benchmarks." You also can register for a free webinar. Click here to access the 2009 Baseline Study of the Cobalt Citizen Satisfaction Index.

Health care research (GASB 45)

Cobalt has begun the 2009 Health and OPEB Funding Strategies study. This second-year study helps public employers who are weighing decisions about how to fund retiree health plans. Results help guide national efforts to improve education on this important change and share best practices.

This survey is sponsored by a coalition of organizations that represent more than 20,000 local governments, including Gabriel, Roeder, Smith & Company (GRS), the National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems (NCPERS), the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP), the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), the Municipal Employees Retirement System of Michigan, the Employee Benefits Research Institute (EBRI), and the Tegrit Financial Group.

Now available: Results of the Health and OPEB Funding Strategies: 2008 National Survey of Local Governments. This study provides the largest random survey of local governments' awareness and response to the Governmental Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 45 (GASB 45). Click here for the free download or to purchase the detailed report.

For the detailed 2008 media release, please click here.