Organizational Learning & Evaluation Capacity Building
Location: Room 209
Abstract Information: Improving the lives of communities of color has been the mission of many philanthropic organizations. To create and support the systemic change needed for this improvement, many of these foundations have embraced place-based grantmaking as an approach that focuses on improving whole communities rather than addressing a single issue (Murdoch, 2007). The place-based approach requires accurate community-level data to assess their progress and foundations often have to rely on community-based organizations to provide that data. For many community-based organizations, this task is new and often daunting. As a result, foundations made a significant investment in increasing the evaluation capacity of these non-profit and community-based organizations in their chosen places.
Evaluation Capacity Building (ECB), also known as evaluation technical assistance, equips community-based organizations with the skills and tools needed to assess and monitor their progress, make changes as needed, and tell their story. However, grantees often do not take full advantage of the wide array of resources and assistance offered which presents challenges in reporting on outcomes and encouraging skill-building among their staff. Through a combination of lecture, small and large group discussions, and exercises, this workshop will focus on applying a grassroots approach of ECB by 1) discussing the elements of ECB and how it differs from the traditional approach to evaluation capacity-building work, 2) the role of the evaluation TA providers in this framework and the power dynamics at play, and 3) strategies to develop a meaningful partnership with those community-based organizations to support their capacity needs. This discussion will highlight topics on the practices of humility, understanding, and respect for place, culture, and history.
Workshop Objectives
By the end of this skill-building workshop, participants will:
• Learn how a grassroots approach differs from the traditional ECB model;
• Understand the grassroots approach of evaluation capacity building and how to apply it in their work;
• Explore strategies and tools to navigate challenges;
• Learn how to build effective relationships, and;
• Learn how to create a narrative around evaluation that will encourage people to utilize the capacity support available
Murdoch, J. (2007). The Place-Based Strategic Philanthropy Model. Dallas: The University of Texas at Dallas.
Relevance Statement: This workshop aims to highlight the benefits of utilizing the Evaluation Capacity Building approach to better gauge the needs of the communities you, as an Evaluator, will be working with. Specifically, we will showcase the importance of understanding and adapting to the context and culture of the local nonprofit organizations and their communities to ensure an effective and meaningful partnership is built for the purposes of both evaluation and capacity building. This workshop serves to educate both newer and experienced Evaluators in discussing the practical applications of ECB when engaging with communities who are often marginalized and/or excluded from evaluation theories and discussions.