In the current landscape, funders are rethinking how evaluation is done—and for whom. Increasingly, culturally responsive and equitable evaluation (CREE) is not just a guiding principle, but a shared commitment across the field. Through long-standing partnerships with Expanding the Bench® (ETB), funders are finding not only the tools to advance this shift, but also the trusted relationships, shared learning, and practical strategies to sustain it.

A recurring theme among funders working with ETB is the power of community. ETB has created a space where funders don’t have to navigate equity work in isolation. Through advisory groups, hosting as a Leaders in Equitable Evaluation and Diversity (LEEAD) Program Practicum Site, and informal spaces like Coffee Breaks, funders experience a rare kind of peer connection—one rooted in trust, shared values, and a commitment to making evaluation more inclusive. These interactions aren’t just energizing—they’re catalytic.

That sense of shared purpose is paired with deep, practical support. From consultations and learning series to field-building collaborations, ETB equips funders with actionable approaches to integrating equity throughout the evaluation lifecycle. Funders report that ETB helps translate values into systems-level change, embrace abundance, and enact collective action.

Perhaps most significantly, ETB’s work is shifting power. Funders are moving beyond traditional evaluation models—bringing in community voices at the earliest stages of learning, questioning whose knowledge counts, and partnering with evaluators whose lived experience brings depth and relevance to the work. These changes are being institutionalized across organizations, supported by ETB’s ongoing guidance and field-building infrastructure.

This work will take center stage at the upcoming ACE (Advancing Culturally-responsive and Equitable) Evaluation Network Forum. The ACE Forum brings together evaluators, funders, and practitioners to explore what it takes to build evaluation practices that are not only rigorous, but also just. For funders, it’s an opportunity to dig into common challenges, learn directly from underrepresented evaluators, and connect with peers equally committed to equity in action.

As one funder put it, “ETB is no longer just a resource—it’s a fixture in the field. Its ability to meet the distinct needs of funders, evaluators, and communities alike makes it a rare and vital partner.” For funders committed to transforming evaluation into a tool for equity, the path forward is clearer—and stronger—when that work is resourced, coordinated, and rooted in community.

Contact the ETB Team to learn more about upcoming ACE Forums team@expandingthebanch.org.