Effective Communities Project

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The Effective Communities Project (ECP) helps foundations and nonprofits achieve greater mission, organizational and program effectiveness.

ECP works with the gamut of civic, public, and philanthropic organizations – Foundations, nonprofit organizations, donors, grassroots groups, agencies, associations, networks, and systems. We prefer working with organizations that seek to level the playing field, create opportunities, reduce barriers, and otherwise improve conditions that support fair and equitable progress.

GOALS AND ACTIVITIES OF THE EFFECTIVE COMMUNITIES PROJECT

Advise

On communicating organizational results and value
About strategies for gathering evidence to communicate progress
On creative leadership roles inside and outside the organization

Evaluate

Effectiveness of grantmaking programs
Progress and merits of organization’s work
Organizational capacity to meet mission

Educate

Boards and staff about lessons learned from a lifetime of evaluation practice in the philanthropic arena
Through materials, tools, articles, presentations publicizing the work and findings of ECP, past and present
Via JustPhilanthropy blog from the confluence of philanthropy, justice and evaluation

Facilitate

Strategic planning processes with multi-organizational and internal teams
Development of operational action plans
Staff retreats and trainings

Advance

Through resource development and grant writing
With project and program design
Through contract for program/project implementation