Effective Communities Project

Effective Communities Project

Steven E. Mayer, Ph.D.

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Articles

Evaluating philanthropy
PROGRAM EVALUATION

Wanted: Better Evaluation Practices for a Better Philanthropy

January 16, 2021 Steve Mayer

Philanthropy by definition is a noble endeavor. Yet people want to know, “what good does philanthropy do?” The answer is hard to get, partly because philanthropy doesn’t really want to know, and evaluation doesn’t really know how to serve up good answers. This article illuminates the dilemma. […]

Philanthropy, Justice, and Evaluation
EFFECTIVE PHILANTHROPY

Pathways to Progress: Focusing Philanthropy on Racial Equity and Social Justice

January 16, 2021 Steve Mayer

This paper is the culmination of five years’ work evaluating Ford Foundation’s portfolio of grants, “Community Philanthropy and Racial Equity in the American South.” It is based on reflective, focused, and appreciative conversations with nearly 100 philanthropic organizations operating in both African American and White American settings. […]

Dignity gap
SOCIAL JUSTICE

A “Dignity Gap”

January 15, 2021 Steve Mayer

Since I made such a big thing about dignity in my last post, can we acknowledge something like a “dignity gap?” Not trying to introduce new jargon, but the notion is this: We’re familiar with […]

Assist disadvantaged groups
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

How to Assist Disadvantaged Groups

December 14, 2020 Steve Mayer

Early in my professional life, the Dayton Hudson Foundation (predecessor to Target Foundation) came to me with this challenging opportunity.   “Forty percent of our grantmaking budget is now dedicated to what we’re calling ‘Social Action.’  […]

Use advocacy
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Use Advocacy To Promote Social Change

November 18, 2020 Steve Mayer

What is “advocacy”?  The word is from Latin, meaning “to give voice” to a cause that it might progress and succeed.  Advocacy has recently become a legitimate strategy to promote social change.  What is advocacy, […]

Indicators of freedom
SOCIAL JUSTICE

Indicators of Freedom From The Film, “12 Years a Slave”

November 12, 2020 Steve Mayer

I went to see “12 Years a Slave” the other night, but was a little apprehensive about going, given what I’d heard.  To keep it together I decided to write down all the indicators of […]

Institutionalized racism
SOCIAL JUSTICE

Institutional Racism: It’s Hard To See Racism When You’re White

November 11, 2020 Steve Mayer

“It’s hard to see racism when you’re White,” the billboards erected by Duluth’s [former] Un-Fair Campaign allege.   The billboard conveys the message very directly of institutional racism.  Enraged Whites, according to an article in the […]

Evidence of success
NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT

Evidence of Success: Follow the Action

November 11, 2020 Steve Mayer

In Effective Philanthropy: Make a Difference we made the point that different programs focus their action differently.  Some want to create change at the individual level.  Others want to create change at the system level, […]

Philanthropy, Justice, and Evaluation
EFFECTIVE PHILANTHROPY

Can Philanthropy Create Greater Racial Equity and Social Justice?

November 10, 2020 Steve Mayer

Can philanthropy create greater racial equity and social justice?  Good question.  And the answer is Yes, we learned in a five-year inquiry with support from the Ford Foundation.  What does philanthropy do to make progress […]

Community foundations
NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT

As Seen on TV – Building Community Capacity: The Potential of Community Foundations

November 10, 2020 Steve Mayer

As seen on TV!  Download free, the editors cut of my 1994 classic, “Building Community Capacity: The Potential of Community Foundations.” This easy-reading book relates the successful experience of 17 community foundations participating in the […]

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Recent Articles

  • Wanted: Better Evaluation Practices for a Better Philanthropy
    January 16, 2021
  • Pathways to Progress: Focusing Philanthropy on Racial Equity and Social Justice
    January 16, 2021
  • A “Dignity Gap”
    January 15, 2021
  • How to Assist Disadvantaged Groups
    December 14, 2020
  • Use Advocacy To Promote Social Change
    November 18, 2020
  • Indicators of Freedom From The Film, “12 Years a Slave”
    November 12, 2020
  • Institutional Racism: It’s Hard To See Racism When You’re White
    November 11, 2020
  • Evidence of Success: Follow the Action
    November 11, 2020
  • Can Philanthropy Create Greater Racial Equity and Social Justice?
    November 10, 2020
  • As Seen on TV – Building Community Capacity: The Potential of Community Foundations
    November 10, 2020

Tags

ACTIVISM advocacy CAPACITY BUILDING Central and Eastern Europe civic engagement COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Community Foundations community philanthropy Consumers Union democracy dignity disparities Effective Communities Project Effective philanthropy equity EVALUATION Evidence of progress Evidence of success fair housing Ford Foundation foundations GRANTMAKING hunger institutional racism Jim Crow Justice Just Philanthropy measurement metrics metrics in philanthropy Neighborhood organizations Nonprofit development NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT nonprofits Organizational capacity Pathways to Progress philanthropic effectiveness PHILANTHROPY progress racial equity social change SOCIAL JUSTICE system change Systems change venture philanthropy
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Recent Post
  • Wanted: Better Evaluation Practices for a Better Philanthropy
  • Pathways to Progress: Focusing Philanthropy on Racial Equity and Social Justice
  • A “Dignity Gap”
  • How to Assist Disadvantaged Groups
  • Use Advocacy To Promote Social Change
Tags
ACTIVISM advocacy CAPACITY BUILDING Central and Eastern Europe civic engagement COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Community Foundations community philanthropy Consumers Union democracy dignity disparities Effective Communities Project Effective philanthropy equity EVALUATION Evidence of progress Evidence of success fair housing Ford Foundation foundations GRANTMAKING hunger institutional racism Jim Crow Justice Just Philanthropy measurement metrics metrics in philanthropy Neighborhood organizations Nonprofit development NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT nonprofits Organizational capacity Pathways to Progress philanthropic effectiveness PHILANTHROPY progress racial equity social change SOCIAL JUSTICE system change Systems change venture philanthropy
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