Center for Evaluation Innovation

📣 Announcing the 2023 Benchmarking Foundation Learning and Evaluation Practices Report! This year’s report comes at a critical moment: Foundations across the country are changing how they work to be equitable, trust-based, and community-centered. Learning and evaluation practices are no different. We surveyed over 100 foundations to explore evaluation and learning practices across the philanthropic sector. Our research showed that while foundations are making strides to strengthen diversity and equity efforts, more work remains. Access the full 2023 Benchmarking Report to learn more ⬇️   https://lnkd.in/dJgEsYXJ

Our signature Benchmarking Foundation Learning & Evaluation Practices research has been tracking trends in how foundations structure, staff, resource, and prioritize the work of their learning and evaluation functions since 2009. Have you read our latest report? Click here: https://bit.ly/CEI-2023

"It felt as if our connection was destined. We were building off of the work of previous generations of Black people. Our community, past and present, had paved the way for our power to be rooted in, multiply, and inspire a movement for new philanthropy. It was an intergenerational meeting of hearts and minds, all fully present and active in our communities and leading in the sector of philanthropy." Read on to learn how Lulete Mola, Repa Mekha, and Chanda Smith Baker imagined and created Minnesota's first Black community foundation, Black Collective Foundation MN: https://lnkd.in/g-28gwu9

At CEI, we move in alignment with our values. They guide our partnerships, engagements, workflows, and processes. Learn more about our values and how we work here: https://lnkd.in/gUteYrsX

Congratulations to Jara Dean-Coffey (she/her/hers) and Julia Coffman, the incredible 2024 AEA Alva & Gunnar Myrdal Evaluation Practice Awardees, and to all of the 2024 American Evaluation Association Award recipients. So grateful to learn from you and to proud to be your co-conspirator!! #evaluation #leadership

Learning about learning. #FunderListening #ParticipatoryGrantmaking #philanthropy #listening #communityengagement #funders #foundations Melinda Tuan

👀 What we're reading: Guiding Questions to Advance Equity in Evaluation and Research This new publication from Annie E. Casey Foundation, in consultation with the Equitable Evaluation Initiative, is a huge resource for the field, offering practical guidelines and specific questions for bringing equity into your foundation's evaluation, research, and learning. Check it out: https://lnkd.in/gyUrNzjY

We are absolutely thrilled to announce that Dr. Hanh Cao Yu will be the next Executive Director of the Center for Evaluation Innovation! We will welcome Hanh on October 1, 2024 and are so excited for her vision and leadership during CEI’s next chapter. Dr. Yu brings almost 30 years of experience in racial equity, social change philanthropy and evaluation, leadership development, organizational effectiveness, community organizing, and working with vulnerable populations. Thank you to CEI’s board of directors, staff, our founder and outgoing leader Julia Coffman, our Board of Directors, and our search firm NPAG for making this transition possible. Learn more about what’s next here: https://bit.ly/4dF9kmf

We're continuing to celebrate our 15th birthday by revisiting 15 of our favorite resources. This next resources is a classic: our Asking Powerful Questions webinar!

"During our journey to operationalize trust, we continue to learn lessons about what this work requires. Rather than a hard pivot, operationalizing trust can be an evolution." Jamie Allison & Jennifer Haas | Walter & Elise Haas Fund Reminder this work can be nuanced, iterative, and evolve. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, to learn more about the Walter & Elise Haas Fund's journey to "Operationalizing Trust" read more below. #TheFutureofPhilanthropyIsTrustBased #ShiftthePower #TrustBasedPhilanthropy