Blog

The systems approach to evaluation refers to a theoretical orientation of evaluation practice that draws from systems theory in engineering and other technical sciences (Williams & Imam, 2007). Many evaluators find that principles of dynamic systems apply to the dynamic nature of human behavior and the organizational and social systems that arise from human interactions. Systems approaches to evaluation are being adapted to evaluate everything from small-scale individual programs to…

Community Science is currently evaluating two leadership programs; these evaluations provide an opportunity for us to further understand how leadership programs impact those who lead, the people they lead, and the systems and communities within which they operate. About a year ago, the Bush Foundation engaged us to evaluate its Change Network, a new style of cohort and pilot program. The foundation recognizes that effective leadership is a combination of…

Established in 1930, the W. K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) supports children, families, and communities as they strengthen and create conditions that propel vulnerable children to achieve success as individuals and contributors to the larger community and society. The foundation's work, at its core, is about giving all children, regardless of race, ethnicity, or income, the opportunity to thrive in school, work, and life. WKKF is based in Battle Creek, Michigan,…

Many philanthropic organizations around the country have made it their mission to improve the lives of children and communities of color. Some of these organizations have used community organizing as a means of creating equitable communities by shifting power to those most affected, and strategically placing these individuals at the forefront of the community organizing process. This article discusses some of the foundational principles for promoting equity through the use…

The Connecticut Health Foundation (CHF) was created in 1999 to understand and address the state's health care challenges. In 2013, CHF deliberately focused on the singular need to eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities for the state of Connecticut. Since the foundation's inception, its efforts have aimed to change the systems that impact health care, and the foundation accomplishes this currently through grant making; conducting and supporting health policy research;…

"Information is power," says Deputy Mayor Kanika Tomalin of St. Petersburg, Florida, during her welcoming speech at the annual Community Indicators Consortium in November 2017. She was referring to the conference's theme this year-Information is Power: Data to Support Community Change-where hundreds of data-driven activists gathered to discuss the importance of community data for addressing inequity. The validity of data and reliable sources of information have never been as crucial…