A Framework for Evaluating Participatory Grantmaking

Over the last decade, more funders have been exploring ways to engage communities and shift power through participatory grantmaking initiatives. Because these approaches tend to have multiple stakeholders and a range of intended outcomes that can be difficult to measure, it can be challenging for evaluators to assess their effectiveness. Do these participatory approaches actually shift power, as many of them intend? Do they lead to better outcomes for the participants involved and the communities at the heart of the funder’s work? From evaluation design to implementation, this demonstration will explore a framework for how evaluators can approach their assessments of funders’ participatory grantmaking programs. Workshop participants will explore the core audiences to engage in initiative assessments and key indicators by which to evaluate program success. Session leads will focus on how to apply the framework to sample participatory grantmaking initiatives, and share best practices for navigating constraints.
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