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Expanding the Bench

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

Become a Member

Contribute Your Expertise and Experience

Participation in the 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 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 (U.S.) state or territory, or on sovereign tribal land within U.S. borders. The Network is not currently accepting applications from evaluators who live outside of U.S. states or territories, or who live on tribal land outside of U.S. 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. Research experience does not count towards the seven (7) year minimum.
  • 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. The FAQ page will be updated within five (5) business days of receiving any new/additional questions.

Review the Membership Application Guide (Word, PDF) prior to beginning the application. This detailed guide includes helpful information about the application process, content, and scoring. As part of your application, you will be asked to provide:

  • 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. 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 by 300px – 600px by 600px).
  • Video resume (optional).
  • A short (200-word max.) biography of yourself that demonstrates 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. You are encouraged, but not required, to also share a brief cultural introduction of yourself in your biography. Cultural introductions often include details of your lived experience and how this experience shapes your practice.

The application 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. If for any reason you are unable to access and/or complete the application online, please contact team@expandingthebench.org for guidance on how to submit it.

Have questions? Email our team >>

ACE Evaluation Network Membership Rolling Application Coming Soon!

Beginning in 2021, the ACE Evaluation Network will accept applications on a rolling basis and reviews applications every six months. Applicants will be notified when their application is received, at which time ETB will share the evaluation timeline for their application.