In an effort to better fulfill its public service mission, the University of California, San Francisco, has undertaken an intensive assessment and strategic planning process to build institutional capacity for civic engagement and community partnership. The first stage was a qualitative assessment focused primarily on three local communities, followed by a grassroots collaborative planning process resulting in the creation of a department-based Community Partnership Resource Center. The second stage was a campuswide self-assessment by the UCSF Executive Vice Chancellor's Task Force on Community Partnerships. This quantitative data collection about current UCSF partnerships and examination of national best practices resulted in recommendations for institutional action. The third stage was the creation of the University Community Partnership Program, which will ultimately serve the needs of the entire UCSF campus as well as all surrounding communities. This article describes the self-assessment and strategic planning process, challenges encountered, and lessons learned.