There are five pillars of the community that represent the areas of commitment and concentration of the Civic Institute. These five pillars are:

• Civic Responsibility - The Mercyhurst Civic Institute serves as a research extension of the college and works to fulfill the Mercy Tradition by collaborating with organizations to strive for community development and civic well-being.
• Children & Families - Mercyhurst recognizes that children are the foundation of a community's future. We are deeply concerned with the welfare of our children and the strength of families in our community.
• Health - Of importance to both individuals and communities alike, we recognize that health is an integral part of a happy, growing community.
• Justice - Recognizing that Justice is an important part of keeping a community safe, we work closely with the courts and other criminal justice communities.
• Education - Knowing that education is an essential part of the betterment of the community, we provide data and reports on our site readily available to anyone that needs or wants access to the information.