Coffee Breaks - Expanding The Bench

Take a Coffee Break

Connecting Evaluators and Funders

Through Expanding the Bench® (ETB) Coffee Breaks, evaluators and funders of evaluation have the opportunity to virtually network and build relationships while focusing on the practice of culturally responsive and equitable evaluation (CREE). The ETB Team matches participants for a 1:1 or small-group chat based on focus areas and interests with support provided along the way!

Coffee Breaks are exclusively offered to Evaluators from the Advancing Culturally-responsive and Equitable (ACE) Evaluation Network and Evaluators who are Alumni from the Leaders in Equitable Evaluation and Diversity (LEEAD) Program for free.

Funders of Evaluation can participate in Coffee Breaks by subscribing to the Pricing Model.*

Sign Up for Coffee Breaks!

Coffee Breaks are offered year-round. ACE Evaluation Network Members and LEEAD Alumni, please email Team@ExpandingtheBench.org to sign up. Funders of Evaluation, please visit the Pricing Model subscription page below to sign up.

Why do we host Coffee Breaks?

To create and/or enhance relationships among contributors within the ETB evaluation ecosystem, such as evaluators from the ACE Evaluation Network, LEEAD Program, and funders of evaluation.
To continue building mutual understanding of how CREE is sought and practiced.
To improve and/or increase solicitation of CREE-practicing evaluators.

Coffee Breaks are intended to serve as a “get-to-know-you” opportunity, focused on networking and relationship-building. While these meetings may lead to direct conversation about work, proposals, and contracts, this is not an expected part of the conversation.

How does it work?

Coffee Breaks are offered year-round with designated cycles.

To support connections within the ETB evaluator community, ACE Evaluation Network Members and LEEAD Alumni can indicate interest meeting with fellow evaluators and/or funders of evaluation. Funders will be matched with evaluators from the ACE Evaluation Network or LEEAD Program.

Matches are not guaranteed for every cycle depending on the pool of participants.

Sign up for Coffee Breaks by completing an intake form that will help us match you. Sign-ups will be open periodically and sent over email to participants, so sign up by the respective deadlines to be matched in time for a Coffee Break cycle.
Once matched, you will be notified by email about your match(es). Review the provided participant profiles and get ready to make your Coffee Break happen within the next month.
Connect with your 1:1 match(es) by email to coordinate a date and time that works for both of you. Small Groups will be notified and facilitated by the ETB Team to determine the date, time, and meeting format.
After the Coffee Break, complete a short survey and share your experiences and feedback with us.

By participating in Coffee Breaks, you agree to:

Respond to communications related to matching and scheduling in a timely manner.
For 1:1 conversations, funders are expected to take the lead in coordinating and scheduling your conversations with evaluators. Please note that if matched, small group conversations will be coordinated by the ETB Team.
Complete a brief follow-up survey after your conversation to help the ETB Team better understand how we can continue evolving the Coffee Breaks program to better fit your needs.

Read more about Coffee Breaks from our blogs:

Learn more about the evolution of the program and community feedback by reading the Coffee Breaks in Focus: Key Takeaways and Ideas for Strengthening the Approach Report.

*NOTE: Proceeds through the Pricing Model financially support the sustainability of our mission and programming efforts and allow us to continue offering programming and opportunities for racially and ethnically diverse evaluators.

Questions?

If you have any questions about Coffee Breaks or the sign-up process please the team.

Email the Team