Shared Learnings: Engaging Grantees and Staff in Participatory Evaluation of New Grantmaking Pathways at the Kauffman Foundation

Over the course of 2023 and 2024, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation conducted a series of community conversations to help inform the development of their strategic refresh and grant-making relaunch to align with their 2035 Vision. In 2025, the Foundation continued these efforts to integrate community voice by piloting a participatory learning and evaluation model within two new grant pathways (Project and Collective Impact). This paper pressentation will examine the process of Foundation staff and grantees learning new and unlearning old evaluation approaches. Specifically, presenters will discuss ways they explored new ways of knowing and measuring—and ways to align on assessing impact. This paper will contribute new understanding of the challenges and opportunities involved in institutionalizing participatory approaches within private foundations and illuminate how connection with community allows for new ways of assessing impact.