100 - Integrating Developmental Evaluation in Trust-based Philanthropy

This session offers an in-depth exploration of the role of developmental evaluation in trust-based philanthropy, illuminating practical strategies and insights for optimizing community-driven evaluation and impact measurement within the philanthropic landscape. Participants will gain understanding of the symbiotic nature of these approaches, discovering how they foster meaningful connections between stakeholders and promote authentic engagement in the evaluation process. 
 
As evaluators, we recognize the importance of shared-decision making and engaging the people closest to the work in developing and implementing evaluation strategies. However, these values are often in tension with funder expectations around accountability, rigor, and quantifiable data. As funders move to trust-based models that place greater emphasis on shared power, co-learning, and transformation, evaluators need to rely on more nimble and creative approaches. Using lessons learned from four systems-change initiatives, we’ll share strategies for engaging non-profit partners through the evaluation and learning process, including how partners can shape the evaluation design, help identify meaningful outcomes and indicators, and collaborate to engage the people closest to the work in the evaluation. 
 
The session will navigate the challenges and opportunities inherent in utilizing developmental evaluation within a trust-based framework. Through interactive discussions and real-world examples, attendees will gain practical advice and tangible tools for recognizing the strengths of developmental evaluation and effectively embedding it within their organizations. Key topics include building buy-in, responding to resistance, and sustaining evaluator engagement throughout the process. Drawing from our own experiences, we will provide actionable guidance on how to initiate and navigate the integration of developmental evaluation in trust-based philanthropy initiatives. 
 
The session will culminate in an open dialogue where participants can share their experiences, brainstorm solutions to real-life challenges, and collectively explore opportunities for advancing trust-based evaluation practices in their respective contexts.