Show that community work is grounded — not performative
A limited-scope SEAM recognition for a defined community development initiative — reviewed against a pathway grounded in impacted-party engagement, materiality, design, and completed delivery.
The pathway
Five steps from context to completed action
01
Build a credible foundation
Document local context, affected groups, engagement approach, and baseline conditions for the reviewed initiative.
Gain a good understanding of the communities likely to be affected by the project by preparing a Community Profile
Determine the 'social area of influence' by identifying the likely impacted parties
Create a reliable, credible, equitable, and efficient impacted party engagement plan
Assemble relevant baseline data for key social issues
02
Create transparent, reciprocal engagement
Communicate relevant information about the project and likely impacts. Capture input from impacted parties under the engagement plan.
03
Turn input into a reasoned basis for action
Use the SEAM materiality Activity that matches your context to prioritize the issue that should guide the initiative.
Only one materiality Activity applies per initiative: TGa5.1 for construction-phase work (Buildings + Interiors), TGa5.2 for operating-asset work (Operations + Maintenance).
04
Design for relevance and sustained value
Link the selected issue to a defined initiative design grounded in impact, equity, ethics, participation, collaboration, and accountability.
05
Demonstrate completed action
Deliver the volunteer event through the project or property team, in line with the reviewed initiative design.
Pricing
A flat fee per Assessment Scope
$2,500 per Seal · per Assessment Scope.
One reviewed Community Development initiative. Every activity counts toward full SEAM Certification if you choose to pursue it later.
Questions about the Community Development Seal
How is this different from full SEAM Certification?
Full Certification evaluates a whole building across all four pillars. The Community Development Seal is a limited-scope Seal for one defined community development initiative tied to a project or asset. It does not certify the full project, owner, or community-development portfolio.
Can a project earn more than one Community Development Seal?
Yes. A project may pursue more than one Community Development Seal when each initiative independently satisfies the Seal pathway and review requirements. Each Seal applies only to the initiative reviewed.
What is the "Assessment Scope"?
The Assessment Scope defines the boundary of the Seal claim. It identifies the reviewed initiative, project or asset context, applicant, SEAM phase (B+I or O+M), materiality Activity, target population, material issue, partners, review period, and any exclusions.
Does it work for both new construction and existing buildings?
Yes. The Seal applies across Buildings + Interiors (construction-phase) and Operations + Maintenance (operating-asset) contexts. The reviewed initiative uses the materiality Activity that matches its context — TGa5.1 for construction-phase, TGa5.2 for operating-asset.
What disqualifies an initiative from earning the Seal?
The Seal is not awarded when the issue was selected before engagement with impacted parties, when the initiative cannot be tied to a material issue identified through the SEAM pathway, when the volunteer event is disconnected from the reviewed initiative design, when the reviewed pathway is incomplete, or when the claim exceeds the reviewed Assessment Scope.
Does it count toward full Certification later?
Yes. Activities completed for this Seal may carry forward toward future SEAM Certification when the project, phase, reporting period, evidence, and applicable rating system remain aligned with SEAM requirements.
Ready to begin?
Talk to an advisor to scope your Community Development Seal.