Writings
Let’s celebrate our independence by sending birthday gifts to those organizations that are trying to change the system so the…
I turned my list of indicators of enslavement into their more positive form, calling them “indicators of freedom.” Consider them…
If institutional barriers to fairness is the problem in our systems of economic development, justice, school-to-life pathways, etc., then how…
A curious donor will wonder where they might see signs that their donation is “making a difference.” My simple answer:…
It’s a nonprofit’s responsibility – and opportunity – to understand and help others appreciate its own construct of effectiveness in…
“The world isn’t going to be saved overnight, or in a year, or with the one just-right program or policy. It’s people that will save the world, working in a smart accumulation of efforts that together make progress against specific substantial goals.” Steven E. Mayer
Creating one’s own evaluation standards is good practice for any nonprofit, whether given special authorization or not. It creates opportunities…
Your foundation’s grantmaking guidelines reflect your Board’s choice of philanthropic strategy, whether you meant them to or not. Do your…
Projects that work well and produce good outcomes are more likely to capture the eye of funders. Good outcomes in…
The assets view is a growth model. It’s constructive, creative, and progressive. The “assets model of community development,” as distinct…
Both philanthropic effectiveness and nonprofit management need the field of evaluation to make more progress in measuring the ways systems…
Being disadvantaged, we learned, does not mean being born a particular way. Instead, being disadvantaged is the result of an…
Increasing the abilities of its region’s nonprofits should be on the agenda of every community foundation. Building Community Capacity: the…
Proof of program effectiveness beyond a reasonable doubt? Let a jury decide. Is traditional social science the only way to…
It will take activist nonprofits and activist funders to insist on fairness in law enforcement and law enactment. The killing…