Funders and Evaluators in the Time of COVID-19

On May 1, over 40 members of the Funder and Evaluator Network (FEAN)  joined together in a virtual coffee break to connect and reflect on the state of philanthropic evaluation in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.  We were energized to see old and new friends from all over the country and across sectors come together to be in community at this challenging time.

We invite you to take a look at our collective notes and real-time take-aways from the first coffee chat.

Are you a funder or evaluator who would like to join our next FEAN virtual chat on May 29th? Email us at FEAN@equalmeasure.org for the meeting link.

Together, we reflected on a number of things during our chat, including how we’re feeling about evaluation and learning, where we’re seeing positive trends, things we’re wrestling with, and how we might work together to ensure evaluation plays a strong and supportive role moving forward.

What We Heard

We recognize the current crisis presents an opportunity to shift how we as a field work together to embed evaluation and learning into our day to day practices now, and into the future. 

Participants discussed the valuable role evaluation is playing at this time, including facilitation and documentation of emergent strategy sessions among funders and grantees, gathering of real-time data to support decision-making, and calling attention to practices that address systemic inequities.

We’re feeling a mix of emotions, ranging from excitement about the possibility of redefining evaluation at this time to uncertainty about how to proceed without burdening others.  

While many shared their enthusiasm and ideas for advancing how the field engages evaluators at this time, participants are also grappling with the day-to-day reality of balancing information needs in a way that is respectful of the circumstances and doesn’t cause undue burden on those most impacted by the pandemic. Funders  in the discussion felt this concern particularly strongly.

Now is an especially critical time to create and maintain clear lines of communication between funders, evaluators, and intermediaries.  

As one colleague shared: “How can we bring fields together that don’t normally interact to work together in more integrated ways in support of communities?”  Many participants discussed the need to have forums, like FEAN, where there is ongoing communication between our sectors, where we can create a sense of community, share what we’re learning, and plan for the future.

In the upcoming months, we’ll be continuing to provide a space for conversation and learning for the funder and evaluator community and sharing back with the field. Join the FEAN mailing list for updates.