| Session Title: Moving From Ideas to Action: Measuring Foundation Impact |
| Think Tank Session 122 to be held in Room 105 in the Convention Center on Wednesday, Nov 5, 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM |
| Sponsored by the Non-profit and Foundations Evaluation TIG |
| Presenter(s): |
| Nancy Csuti, The Colorado Trust, nancy@coloradotrust.org |
| Discussant(s): |
| Nancy Csuti, The Colorado Trust, nancy@coloradotrust.org |
| Doug Easterling, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, dveaster@wfubmc.edu |
| Sigurd Nilsen, Council on Foundations, sigurd.nilsen@cof.org |
| Abstract: Over the past two decades much as been written calling for more accountability on the part of foundations to demonstrate impact of their work. Many foundations have experimented with assessing impact with varying degrees of success. These attempts have been sporadic, are rarely sustained, often frustrating to all involved parties. However, in the current funding climate as foundations are more closely examined as a possible solution to federal budget cuts, the need to not only examine foundation impact but share the results has increased. This session will focus on what - and who - is necessary to make foundation-focused evaluation relevant - foundation staff, boards and CEOs, and independent evaluators. Questions are: 1. What factors influence a foundation to embark on an impact evaluation? 2. What can independent evaluators do to encourage foundations to evaluate impact? 3. What can be done to improve the odds that a foundation will use the results? What is the role of the foundation versus the evaluators in making this happen? |