In the spring of 1992, the Civic Foundation contracted with a local fund-raising consultant, Edie Blum, to begin the analysis project. She in turn added to her group Jane Kirkham, who, as President of the Playhouse Square Foundation, had played a major role in saving and renovating three historic theaters in downtown Cleveland. Jane embarked on a program of interviewing as many potential users of the Civic as she could identify. Ultimately approximately 40 were interviewed. Her conclusions were that "The Civic's natural user market for the larger spaces consists of smaller, emerging, fledgling or community organizations for whom the sophistication/size of the facility and rental costs of a Playhouse Square Center, downtown hotels, the Cleveland Convention Center, and comparable facilities are both unnecessary and beyond their financial reach. Nowhere in this region do such organizations have a defined center of gravity for their activities."10

Almost two-thirds of the organizations interviewed expressed an interest in using shared facilities at the Civic. From an architectural standpoint, the report recommended that the large spaces should all be arranged for flexible use. The Assembly could become a 250-400 seat venue for dance and theater with a stage that could also be used "in the round." The Gallery could be used for cabaret-style theater and for exhibit space. The Center Hall would be subdivided into rehearsal spaces, and the Ensemble Theatre space would become a "black box" for up to 150 people for local theater use. The largest space, the Great Hall, would have its raked floor flattened so it could be used either for performances of up to 1,000 people, or for large conferences or banquets. In addition, Jane Kirkham recommended several joint uses such as a common box office to serve all of the potential users.

The report concluded with a section on potential sources of funds, noting that the major portion would have to come out of public funds, but with the real possibility of substantial foundation and corporate support from those that were now funding and supporting the various cultural groups that would take up residence at the Civic. Finally, the report reinforced the necessity of the building ownership being turned over to the nonprofit corporation in order for any of the funding options to become possible.