A Values-Driven Approach to Evolving Evaluative Practice

Evaluators working with and within philanthropy are experiencing a time of rapid evolution. Increased demand for evaluation and learning, the growing complexity of philanthropic investments, and greater focus on racial equity and community engagement are challenging evaluators to develop new analytical frames and methods, along with new skills that go well beyond social science. But what values are we bringing to the evolution of evaluation practice in philanthropy? Using the Center for Evaluation Innovation, the Equitable Evaluation Initiative, and the Funder & Evaluator Affinity Network as case examples, this session will explore the often implicit values different people bring to their work and invite us to be more explicit about the values that guide field advancements. During this think tank, participants will contemplate the personal values that inform their practice and what it would take to align our values to support the response evolution of philanthropic evaluation.