Make a Grant
Why Your Commitment & Contributions Help
The backbone of our work at Expanding the Bench® (ETB) has always been to create opportunities and pathways for racially and ethnically diverse leaders to apply and spread awareness of the practice of culturally-responsive and equitable evauation (CREE). It’s critical that ETB both expand upon our efforts and lay the groundwork for sustainability as we continue to grow.
Billions of dollars are spent by philanthropies each year to address challenges in our communities. Turning good intent into desired outcomes requires effective evaluation. Communities where people experience challenges are frequently the focus of study, and yet the Evaluators doing those studies are rarely representative of those communities or have the skills needed to practice CREE.
Supported by a generous group of ETB Funding Partners, ETB increases access to and enhances the skills of racially and ethnically diverse Evaluators who have been historically and/or are presently underrepresented or marginalized in the U.S. When we invite historically marginalized and under-supported Evaluators who practice CREE to do this work, we increase the quality of evaluation design, approaches, measurement tools, and other elements in the process. Ultimately, this increases the likelihood that Funders of Evaluation achieve their desired impact.
Make a Grant
Since we don’t charge Evaluators who participate in our programs, ETB accepts grant funding to back our work. This funding will allow us to continue to provide our services with room to expand.
What Your Support Helps Achieve
The most pressing (and expensive) problems are best understood and mitigated if Evaluators apply an equity lens when conducting evaluations. When diverse Evaluators thrive, the field thrives. Cultivating the practice of CREE through ETB leads to comprehensive, effective evaluations.
ETB is one of the few national initiatives building a pathway and inviting excellent Evaluators from historically marginalized and under-supported groups to participate. There is a lack of diversity within philanthropy and many foundations have committed to implementing organizational initiatives to diversify their internal strategies and practices. Because Funders often commission familiar Evaluators, ETB connects them to racially and ethnically diverse Evaluators who have been historically and/or are presently underrepresented or marginalized in the U.S.
Return on Investment
Learn more about the ETB initiative and how its work helps to create a more equitable field.
Leadership Development
Train emerging Evaluators from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds to lead evaluation through the practice of CREE.
Community Building
Provide opportunities for racially and ethnically diverse Evaluators to build connections and engage in professional development. We offer virtual networking sessions, communities of practice on topics of interest, professional development, and in-person networking opportunities.
Shared Vision
Join the generous group of ETB Funding Partners who have supported ETB. Together, with other allies, we are contributing to a field-building movement to impact the way evaluation is practiced and commissioned and used.
Search the Database
The Advancing Culturally-responsive and Equitable (ACE) Evaluation Network Database offers opportunities for Members, Funders, and Evaluation Partners to engage with one another in CREE learning and work. It serves as a hub for people who seek a shared understanding of and value for CREE, and supports learning through various activities, such as communities of practice, 1:1 Evaluator-Funder Coffee Breaks, an annual Network-wide gathering, and more. Sign up today!
Questions?
If you would like more information on how to make a grant or otherwise financially support ETB, please email Project Co-Director Elizabeth Waetzig.