Menu

Expanding the Bench

Increase and support racial and ethnic diversity in research and evaluation fields

Become a Member

The application period is now closed. Thank you to all who applied!

Our next Call for New Members will open in Spring 2021.

To receive announcements about the Call for New Members and other information, sign up for Bench (Re)Marks, the ETB newsletter!

Contribute Your Expertise and Experience

Participation in the Advancing Culturally-responsive and Equitable (ACE) Evaluation Network is free and comes with relationship building, professional development, and business development benefits. The Network is committed to helping create and increase equitable opportunities for racially and ethnically diverse evaluators, as well as to ensuring a membership base rooted in culturally responsive and equitable evaluation (CREE).

Please follow all of the steps below to apply to the Network.

Successful applicants to the Network’s bi-annual call for qualifications must demonstrate their evaluation knowledge and experience, and provide sufficient detail around their CREE practice. Graduates of the Leaders in Equitable Evaluation and Diversity (LEEAD) Program are encouraged to apply. To join the ACE Evaluation Network, you must meet ALL of the following membership criteria:

  • Identify as an evaluator part of a racially and/or ethnically diverse group. At this time, the Network is NOT accepting applications from evaluators who identify solely as white of European or European-American descent.
  • Reside in a United States (US) state or territory, or on sovereign tribal land within US borders. The Network is not currently accepting applications from evaluators who live outside of US states or territories, or who live on tribal land outside of US borders.
  • Seven (7) or more years of paid evaluation experience, including work in a key/lead role (e.g., Principal Investigator, Project Director, Project Lead) on at least three (3) evaluation projects.
  • Knowledge and practice of CREE.
  • High-quality writing and reporting skills, including the ability to communicate evaluation processes and findings to multiple audiences.

Visit the ACE Evaluation Network’s FAQ page to see questions and responses regarding the Network and membership application. This page will be updated per the below timeline.

Interested evaluators are encouraged to prepare the following information/materials in advance of the application opening:

  • List of evaluation focus areas, skills, and populations.
  • Current CV/resume (3 pages max.) that clearly describes your role(s), number of years serving as a key/lead evaluator, and relevant CREE experience, including at least three (3) evaluation projects for which you served in a key/lead role (e.g., Principal Investigator, Project Lead, etc.).
  • One (1) to two (2) work sample(s) (e.g., evaluation report, publication) for which you are one of the lead authors and that exemplify your CREE practice.
  • A single letter of recommendation from one (1) reference or contact information for three (3) references. Signed and dated letters of recommendation should be placed on official letterhead (if applicable), limited to 500 words, and attached to your online application. If references are unable to respond in written or spoken English, please contact team@expandingthebench.org for further guidance. All references should be prepared to address the following points in support of your application:
    • Fit for the Network;
    • Familiarity with your evaluation experience, including years of practice, role(s), knowledge, and skills; and
    • A description, including examples, of your CREE approach.
  • Photo that clearly shows your face (optional; JPEG, GIF or PNG between 300px X 300px – 600px X 600px).
  • Video resume (optional).
  • A short (200-word max.) biography of yourself that includes a cultural introduction and your experience in evaluation. Use key words that accurately highlight your unique expertise and that will help application reviewers, as well as future evaluation funders/partners, get to know your work. Highlight your knowledge of and experience with CREE.

The application is in Google Forms, and must be completed in one sitting. You will NOT be able to save your responses and return to work on your application at a later time. Applicants are encouraged to review the Expanding the Bench: Advancing Culturally-responsive and Equitable Evaluation Network Call for New Members Application Guide (pdf) prior to beginning work on your application. This detailed guide includes helpful information about the application process, content, and scoring. It is highly recommended you prepare your response to the application several days in advance of the deadline. If for any reason you are unable to access and/or complete the application using Google Forms, please contact team@expandingthebench.org for guidance on how to submit it by the deadline.

The application period for Fall 2020 is now closed and will reopen in Spring 2021. Thank you to all who applied!

Have questions? Email our team >>

Fall 2020 Application Timeline

  • October 6, 2020
    Application period opens at 12:00 pm EDT • 11:00 am CDT • 10:00 am MDT • 9:00 am PDT • 8:00 am AKDT • 6:00 am HST.
  • October 26, 2020
    Last day for applicants to submit questions about the application. All questions are due by 8:00 am EDT • 7:00 am CDT • 6:00 am MDT • 5:00 am PDT • 4:00 am AKDT • 2:00 am HST.
  • November 15, 2020
    Application period closes at 11:59 pm EST • 10:59 pm CST • 9:59 pm MST • 8:59 pm PST • 7:59 pm AKST • 6:59 pm HST. All applications and supporting materials must be received by the deadline. Late applications will not be considered.
  • November – December 2020
    ETB Review Team reviews applications and identifies new Network Members.
  • Mid-December 2020
    ETB notifies applicants of their status (invited to join the Network or declined and encouraged to reapply in the future).
  • January 14, 2020
    ETB hosts New Member Webinar at 3:00 pm EST • 2:00 pm CST • 1:00 pm MST • 12:00 pm PST • 11:00 am AKST • 10:00 am HST.

.entry-content .timeline ul li strong { font-size: 130%; color: #696acd; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.3; }