Search Results

insight Aug 2023

Using Discourse Analysis to Assess Narrative Change: Humanistic Methods

Discourse analysis is a valuable tool for understanding sociocultural narratives and learning how they can strengthen social justice efforts to work toward lasting change. The humanities offer a useful suite of methods for evaluating and contributing to the work of narrative change.

By Sowmya Ramanathan

publication May 2023

Toward Power-Shifting Solidarity with Black-Led Change

This research considers the question: What will it take for institutional philanthropy in MN and beyond to move at the speed of courage and invest wholly in Black lives?

By Repa Mekha, Lyle Matthew Kanpez, Lulete Mola, Lori Villarosa, Dr. Chera Reid, Dr. Albertina Lopez, Chanda Smith Baker, Ben Francisco Maulbeck

publication Nov 2022

How to do Process Tracing: A Method for Testing “How Change Happened” in Complex and Dynamic Settings

Process tracing is a causal methodology that can help us to understand how change actually happened within a complex dynamic environment.

By Jennifer Byers, Jewlya Lynn, Sarah Stachowiak

publication Jan 2022

Lost Causal: Debunking Myths About Causal Analysis in Philanthropy

Causal analysis is not just for controlled programmatic work, it is also for dynamic and emergent strategies that include network building, field building, advocacy, organizing, or movements.

By Sarah Stachowiak, Julia Coffman, Jewlya Lynn

publication Nov 2021

We need to articulate our assumptions so that we can test them. Here’s a guide to help.

This four-page guidance defines assumptions, explains why it is critical to articulate them, and then offers a set of prompting questions to help elicit them. Examples are included.

By Tanya Beer, Julia Coffman

event Dec 2020

American Evaluation Association (2020)

CEI staff presented at the virtual American Evaluation Association conference in October 2020.

insight Jun 2020

It’s Time to Let Go of Tired Narratives about Talent in Evaluation

Social sector conversations about talent often focus on increasing diversity, building skillsets, and improving hiring and management. But to solve tough social problems, we need to let go of tired narratives about talent and work together to dismantle oppression in the evaluation field.

By Clare Nolan

presentation May 2020

Why is Evaluation So White?

In this presentation, Vidhya Shanker, PhD, and Carolina De La Rosa Mateo, MPH, explore how the field of evaluation has approached race, the implications of that approach, and the promise of generative networks to amplify the work of evaluators who identify as Indigenous, Black, or People of Color (IBPOC), as illustrated by one such network recently formed in Minnesota.

By Vidhya Shanker, Carolina De La Rosa Mateo

presentation Feb 2020

Performance Measurement for Emergent and Complex Strategies [Webinar]

Learn about four types of strategies—niche, integrated, emergent, and ecosystem—and the types of performance measurement and accountability systems best suited to each.

insight Dec 2019

The Realm of Possibility in Evaluation

It is possible to get more from evaluation, and it starts by challenging our own habits.

By Mariah Brothe Gantz

publication Jan 2018

Addendum to On the Other Side of Complexity: The McKnight Foundation’s Collaborative Crop Research Program

This addendum makes clarifications to the teaching case of The McKnight Foundation's Collaborative Crop Research Program and its evaluation. It adds detail on the program's developmental evaluation.

publication Sep 2017

On the Other Side of Complexity: The McKnight Foundation’s Collaborative Crop Research Program

Under the direction of a new president, The McKnight Foundation embarked on a process to imbue learning at every level of one of its signature international programs: the Collaborative Crop Research Program (CCRP). This teaching case explores the creation, implementation, and ongoing refinement of an evaluation and learning approach for CCRP from 2008 to 2017.