Foundations and Evaluation: Contexts and Practices for Effective Philanthropy

A State–of–the–Art Guide to Effective Evaluation in the Foundation World "Gathered together in this unique book on evaluation and effective foundation practice are the experience–based perspectives and measured insights of both seasoned practitioners and key philanthropic thought leaders. Foundations and Evaluation is a substantial think piece for grantmakers of any size." — Dorothy S. Ridings , president and CEO, Council on Foundations " Foundations and Evaluation explores the intersection between organizational effectiveness and evaluation and demonstrates the need for commitment to evaluation throughout the foundation. . . . A good read for both newcomers to evaluation and those with more experience, written by some of the most highly respected leaders in the field." — Kathleen P. Enright , executive director, Grantmakers for Effective Organizations "In this book, evaluation luminaries provide valuable advice on how to put evaluation to work for foundations. The twin emphases of the book are developing foundations′ capacities to do evaluation and making sound use of the resulting evidence to advance philanthropic work. Foundation officers and boards–and grantees, too–can learn a lot." — Carol H. Weiss , Beatrice B. Whiting Professor, Harvard Graduate School of Education "This volume offers a much–needed look at an overlooked topic. As a former evaluator–on–call for a small community foundation, I created my own guidelines–and made my own mistakes–since no book like this existed. Those of us who teach evaluation will find that the book offers clear and useful examples of one important domain for evaluation. In fact, this book can be valuable for all evaluators, not just those in foundations." — Sharon F. Rallis , professor, University of Connecticut, and president, American Evaluation Association, 2004–05

Tables, Figures, and Exhibits xi Foreword xiii Richard T. Schlosberg III Preface xvii The Editors xxi The Contributors xxiii Introduction: Putting Evaluation to Work for Foundations xxxv Jana Kay Slater, Norman A. Constantine, and Marc T. Braverman PRESIDENTIAL PERSPECTIVES Perspective by Hodding Carter III xlvii President and CEO, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Perspective by Michael M. Howe liii President, The East Bay Community Foundation Perspective by Risa Lavizzo–Mourey lvii President and CEO, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation PART ONE: UNDERSTANDING FOUNDATIONS AS A CONTEXT FOR EVALUATION 1 Using Evaluation to Advance a Foundation’s Mission 3 Laura C. Leviton and Marian E. Bass 2 A Historical Perspective on Evaluation in Foundations 27 Peter Dobkin Hall 3 Foundations and Evaluation as Uneasy Partners in Learning 51 Mark R. Kramer and William E. Bickel 4 Building Strong Foundation–Grantee Relationships 76 Michael Quinn Patton, John Bare, and Deborah G. Bonnet 5 Evaluation as a Democratizing Practice 96 Jennifer C. Greene, Ricardo A. Millett, and Rodney K. Hopson 6 Integrating Evaluation into Foundation Activity Cycles 119 Laura C. Leviton and William E. Bickel PART TWO: BUILDING CAPACITY FOR EVALUATION PRACTICE 7 Making Judgments About What to Evaluate and How Intensely 145 Melvin M. Mark and William L. Beery 8 Adapting Evaluation to Accommodate Foundations’ Structural and Cultural Characteristics 166 Ross F. Conner, Victor Kuo, Marli S. Melton, and Ricardo A. Millett 9 Field–Based Evaluation as a Path to Foundation Effectiveness 185 Patricia Patrizi and Edward Pauly 10 Strategies for Smaller Foundations 201 Marli S. Melton, Jana Kay Slater, and Wendy L. Constantine 11 Strategies for Comprehensive Initiatives 223 Debra J. Rog and James R. Knickman 12 Appraising Evidence on Program Effectiveness 236 Norman A. Constantine and Marc T. Braverman 13 Evaluative Thinking for Grantees 259 E. Jane Davidson, Michael M. Howe, and Michael Scriven 14 Communicating Results to Different Audiences 281 Lester W. Baxter and Marc T. Braverman Index 305

Marc T. Braverman is a Cooperative Extension youth development specialist in the Department of Human and Community Development at the University of California, Davis. Norman A. Constantine is a senior research scientist and program director of the Center for Research on Adolescent Health and Development at the Public Health Institute in Oakland, California, and lecturer in epidemiology at the University of California, Berkeley. Jana Kay Slater is senior research scientist at the Center for Research on Adolescent Health and Development at the Public Health Institute in Oakland, California.