A Context For Evaluation
Foundations must make important choices about what to support, and how to extend that support. All foundations want to understand the impact of these choices; to determine if the decisions were well-made, and what the results of the intervention were.
Like many Foundations, we face challenges trying to assess our work. The organizations we support are working in complex systems, which could be social, political or environmental. These systems are dynamic, and the Foundation is only one of many factors and participants constantly at play. It is often the case that the impact of our work is influenced by many variables.
Our programs try to provide opportunity for experimentation, organizational change, and learning. We are trying to encourage innovative solutions to difficult problems. As a result, we don’t always know what to expect over the course of a grant. We’re trying to change behaviours and attitudes; to build strength in organizations or individuals, in a community or in a sector. With this kind of work there are many intangible results. We know that not everything can be measured – and the things that can’t be measured easily are often very important.
Why We Evaluate >
How We Evaluate >