| In a 90 minute Roundtable session, the first
rotation uses the first 45 minutes and the second rotation uses the last 45 minutes.
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| Roundtable Rotation I:
Small Foundations With Big Learning Agenda: A Case of Using Analysis of Past Grant Making to Support Future Organizational Learning |
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Roundtable Presentation 303 to be held in BONHAM A on Thursday, Nov 11, 1:40 PM to 3:10 PM
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Sponsored by the Non-profit and Foundations Evaluation TIG
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| Presenter(s):
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| William Bickel, University of Pittsburgh, bickel@pitt.edu
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| Jennifer Iriti, University of Pittsburgh, iriti@pitt.edu
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| Julie Meredith, University of Pittsburgh, julie.meredith@gmail.com
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| Abstract:
Foundations have several core avenues through which they can contribute to social good. Beyond direct grant making, systematic learning from past work to inform and strengthen future grant making and support building of field knowledge are additional possibilities. Large foundations make sizable investments in sophisticated knowledge capture and evaluation infrastructure and processes in this regard. But what is feasible in more modest sized foundations? The authors present a case study of a regional foundation commissioning a university-based evaluation group to undertake a retrospective review of selected grants to better understand grantee evaluability broadly, grantee capacities to document performance, and to identify ways the foundation can better support learning from its grant making going forward. The low-cost review yielded a number of specific recommendations regarding: modifications in foundation outcome targets for grantees, redesigns of foundation infrastructure to support learning, and actions relevant to building grantee capacities long-term to document their results.
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| Roundtable Rotation II:
Challenges in Developing Multi-level Logic Models |
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Roundtable Presentation 303 to be held in BONHAM A on Thursday, Nov 11, 1:40 PM to 3:10 PM
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Sponsored by the Non-profit and Foundations Evaluation TIG
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| Presenter(s):
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| Barbara Wauchope, University of New Hampshire, barb.wauchope@unh.edu
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| Curt Grimm, University of New Hampshire, curt.grimm@unh.edu
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| Abstract:
Developing a multi-level logic model describing a foundation’s grant making initiative and the projects of its grantees is a useful tool to guide the evaluation of activities, outputs, and outcomes of both the initiative and its projects. When such models work well, the initiative model and individual project models link together logically to describe the contribution of each grantee’s project to the initiative overall. In actual work with foundations, however, we have found that multi-level model development is not always as successful a process as we would like it to be. This paper will describe the challenges faced by the evaluators of a current five year regional initiative in the development of a logic model that works for both the foundation and its grantees. The evaluators will invite a discussion of the factors involved and strategies that could make the process easier with better results for all.
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