Resources
publication Apr 2019
Transitions and Transformations for Evaluation’s Role in Philanthropy
Building from an exploration of the transitions that have shaped evaluation and learning in philanthropy over the last 30 years,…
publication Mar 2019
No Royal Road: Finding and Following the Natural Pathways in Advocacy Evaluation
insight May 2018
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea: The Consequences of Small Failures in Learning
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Systems Change Evaluation Forumpublication May 2017
Systems Change Evaluation Forum
Complex systems change efforts create practical challenges for evaluation. The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation convened their full staff and a group of external evaluators who work in philanthropy for a Systems Change Evaluation Forum. This report provides observations, tools, approaches, and advice for addressing systems evaluation challenges.
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Strategy Behind the Design of Advocacy Communications Supportpublication May 2017
Strategy Behind the Design of Advocacy Communications Support
Foundations that fund advocacy understand the critical role communications play in policy change efforts. How can foundations best support grantees’ advocacy communications? This brief offers lessons based on the experiences of advocacy grantmaking initiatives.
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How Do You Measure Up? Finding Fit Between Foundations and Their Evaluation Functionspublication Nov 2016
How Do You Measure Up? Finding Fit Between Foundations and Their Evaluation Functions
Foundations need to think carefully about how the structure, position, focus, resources, and practices of their evaluation functions can best fit their own needs and aspirations. This Foundation Review article, based on 2015 benchmarking research, poses questions foundations can ask to assess what they need from an evaluation function, and common areas of misalignment between needs and approaches.
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No More Half Measurespublication Oct 2016
No More Half Measures
Funders can get better at designing grantmaking strategies that meet the dual demands of advocacy capacity needs and the realities of the policy and political landscape. This brief explores how funders can support policy campaigns while also building advocacy capacity, instead of just picking one approach or the other.
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Benchmarking Foundation Evaluation Practices: 2015 Benchmarking Datapublication May 2016
Benchmarking Foundation Evaluation Practices: 2015 Benchmarking Data
The result of a partnership between the Center for Effective Philanthropy and Center for Evaluation Innovation, this report offers a comprehensive look at foundation evaluation practices, based on 2015 survey data from 127 senior evaluation and program staff at foundations.
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Oh for the Love of Sticky Notes! The Changing Role of Evaluators Who Work with Foundationsinsight Apr 2016
Oh for the Love of Sticky Notes! The Changing Role of Evaluators Who Work with Foundations
Julia Coffman, founder of the Center for Evaluation Innovation, illustrates evaluators’ changing roles in the context of her own experiences as a long-time evaluator in philanthropy. This article published on Medium examines the history of evaluation in philanthropy, and the implications of role changes for evaluator skills, expertise, and boundaries.
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Measuring Political Will: Lessons from Modifying the Policymaker Ratings Methodpublication Apr 2016
Measuring Political Will: Lessons from Modifying the Policymaker Ratings Method
Advocates often seek to move political will as a way to build champions who will drive their issue through the policy process. This brief shares three scenarios where a method for measuring political will was modified. It offers lessons about the tool, the process, and the kinds of products that can be created.
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The Shaping of Evaluation at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
publication Jan 2016
The Shaping of Evaluation at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
This teaching case tells the story of the evolution of the evaluation function at the Hewlett Foundation from 2000 to 2015. It is as much the story of how one foundation’s culture shaped that evolution as it is how key leaders influenced the use of evaluation.
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Strategy Design Amid Complexity: Tools for Designing and Implementing Adaptive Funding Strategiespublication Jul 2015
Strategy Design Amid Complexity: Tools for Designing and Implementing Adaptive Funding Strategies
Foundations need processes and tools to create and implement adaptive strategies while also addressing the core dilemmas these strategies create. This Foundation Review article offers tools to help foundations design adaptive strategies, and ideas for balancing accountability with adaptability.
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Network Evaluation in Practice: Approaches and Applicationspublication Jul 2015
Network Evaluation in Practice: Approaches and Applications
What are success factors in building a network? What should funders support when they design network grants? How can network builders and funders tell how well a network is doing? This Foundation Review article offers a three-pillar framework for evaluating networks focused on network connectivity, health, and results.
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The Advocacy Strategy Frameworkpublication Mar 2015
The Advocacy Strategy Framework
Our most downloaded resource, this brief offers a simple one-page tool for thinking about the theories of change that underlie public policy advocacy strategies. It also offers six questions that advocates, and funders working with advocates, can work through to better articulate their theories of change.
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Four Tools for Assessing Grantee Contribution to Advocacy Effortspublication Mar 2015
Four Tools for Assessing Grantee Contribution to Advocacy Efforts
Advocacy takes place in a complex and crowded political environment with many organizations trying to move policy on the same issue at the same time. This brief offers four tools that funders can use to get a better handle on a grantee’s contribution to an advocacy effort.