The Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators Alliance-Jacob France Institute (known as BNIA-JFI) is a self-support research unit at the University of Baltimore whose core mission is to provide open access to meaningful, reliable, and actionable data about, and for, the City of Baltimore and its communities. BNIA-JFI builds on and coordinates the related work of citywide nonprofit organizations, city and state government agencies, neighborhoods, foundations, businesses, and universities to support and strengthen the principle and practice of well informed decision making for change toward strong neighborhoods, improved quality of life, and a thriving city.
BNIA-JFI is also a partner member of the National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership of the Urban Institute (NNIP). NNIP is a learning network, coordinated by the Urban Institute, of independent organizations in 30 cities that share a mission to ensure all communities have access to data and the skills to use information to advance equity and well-being across neighborhoods.
photo by Mark Szarkowski
Creative Commons Licensed
Our core product is Vital Signs which is a compendium of data points, compiled from a variety of reliable sources, that “take the pulse” of Baltimore’s neighborhoods. Each community in Baltimore can see its Vital Signs that comprise a set of data which, taken together, form a picture of any given neighborhood’s quality of life and overall health.
Each year, we publish Vital Signs in the form of an interactive narrative (See Storymaps) as well as an open data portal or downloadable data tables.
We engage in a number of custom research and data analysis projects both for our parent organization, the Jacob France Institute, and other clients. Our projects all focus on Baltimore City and its constituent neighborhoods.
We support external projects and research through assistance with custom data searches, data analysis and benchmarking, GIS (Geographic Information Systems), market and policy analysis, and training.
Baltimore Data Day is an annual series of workshops that helps communities expand their capacity to use technology and data to advance their goals. Community leaders, nonprofit organizations, governmental entities and civic-minded “hackers” come together to see the latest trends in community-based data, technology and tools and learn how other groups are using data to support and advance constructive change.
BNIA-JFI is supported by diverse groups committed to promoting, supporting, and helping people make better decisions using accurate, reliable, and accessible data and indicators to improve the quality of life in Baltimore City neighborhoods.
We also accept individual donations.
BNIA-JFI’s Steering Committee facilitates the development of the Vital Signs and continues to provide valued assistance and guidance in the operation of BNIA-JFI.
The following groups are currently part of the BNIA-JFI Steering Committee:
Abell Foundation
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Baltimore City Department of Planning
Baltimore City Office of Information & Technology
Baltimore City Public Schools
Baltimore Police Department
Baltimore Education Research Consortium (BERC)
Community Development Network of Maryland
Enoch Pratt Free Library
Jacob France Institute
University of Baltimore, College of Public Affairs
University of Baltimore, Office of Sponsored Research
University of Baltimore, Yale Gordon College of Arts and Sciences
University of Maryland, College Park – School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation