An Exploratory Dialogue Among Funders and Evaluators

On June 2, 2017, in Chicago, IL, 27 funders and evaluators from across the country met to discuss the current state of evaluation and learning in philanthropy, explore barriers to greater collaboration and impact, and identify approaches and strategies designed to build the collective capacity of small and mid-sized evaluation firms.

Participants discussed their challenges and identified what can be done individually and collectively to influence the factors shaping these issues and improve the overall environment for evaluation and learning in philanthropy. The discussion, which focused on small and mid-sized evaluation firms serving large regional and national foundations, was divided into three segments:

• Philanthropic evaluation landscape

• Factors shaping the landscape

• Action steps