By Leah Goldstein Moses
Each August, the Improve Group staff takes a day out of the office to learn in depth about a topic that we’ve been addressing that year. This year, we focused on working ethically, respectfully and responsibly with people as we do our work.
July 26, 2010 - 8:15pm
Many programs delivered by the nonprofit and public sectors are designed to help change people’s lives. For example:
- A nonprofit focused on environmental justice hopes to get neighborhood residents involved in grass-roots activism, including calling policy makers, supporting candidates and monitoring environmental issues
- A county public health department has implemented a number of incentives and opportunities to increase the numbers of people who choose to walk or bike for their regular commute
July 26, 2010 - 8:11pm
December 15, 2009 - 11:19am
I went to a number of insightful presentations at Evaluation 2009 an annual conference put on by the American Evaluation Association. One very interesting session I attended was called “Accountability, Context Transparency and President Obama: Evaluation and the New Administration”. As evaluators, we believe there is great value in examining programs in a rigorous method to find value, note best practices, look for needed changes and record usable, valid data.
November 12, 2009 - 5:30pm
I had the chance to collaborate with Tom DeCaigny of Performing Arts Workshop today to share some of the lessons we've learned about evaluation in the arts. With our participants we had a great discussion about figuring out the best questions to get the information you need, helping people to be honest and courageous during an evaluation, and ways to build buy-in and support for evaluation activities.
April 6, 2009 - 2:13pm
A recent book (summarized here) by the National Committee for Responsible Philanthropy has received much ink and pixels by those who take issue with its premise that there are four basic criteria that should guide foundations:
* Values
* Effectiveness
* Ethics
* Commitment March 17, 2009 - 2:18pm
Educational data systems, long relegated to as a low priority in school districts and states, are now set to receive $250 million in federal stimulus funding.
Educational experts and President Barack Obama’s new emphasis on data systems say that the increased funding means that it is time for states and districts to take the next step: figuring out how to use the information they collect on student performance to improve student achievement.