91 - Let's dance: Strategies for including perspectives in strategy assessments

Abstract Information: Strategy assessments are a relatively new type of evaluation, which usually require different partnership approaches to engaging the funder and other stakeholders such as grantees and others in the field. Evaluators need to navigate power dynamics, understand how to position their role, and ensure methods are designed to include diverse perspectives. Strategy assessments, like effective program evaluations, require trust between the evaluator and funder, benefit from use of mixed methods, need to be highly tailored to context, and have the beneficiary of the assessment in mind at all stages. However, in a strategy assessment, several things are different, starting with the reflection lens pointing toward the funder's role in the strategy, and how their approaches to grantmaking and partnership are more scrutinized than in a program evaluation of their grantees. Because of this it can be trickier for the evaluator to play the dual role of trusted advisor and an objective and critical friend to the funder. In an assessment, the evaluator arguably is in an enhanced position of power, grantees may play very different or even smaller roles, and there may be an increased chance of unintended consequences from assessment findings. Given these differences, a strategy assessment can feel like a dance and continuously learning to flow gracefully with your new partner. We will share strategies for implementing useful and inclusive strategy assessments that represent the principles of integrity and respect for participants by walking through two case studies conducted for philanthropic organizations. The work generated opportunities for funders and practitioners interested in advancing equity in two different fields, and a better understanding of key drivers and barriers to progress. The poster will include the perspectives of experienced evaluators and evaluation project managers for whom this was their first strategy assessment. Each case study will include: • Sharing techniques for fostering strong partnerships • Methods for building inclusive and diverse voices into the planning, data collection, and reporting • Application of a peer review process to strengthen equity, inclusion, and diversity into the design • How the evaluation team navigated staying true to the data and representing voices that pushed funders to expand their thinking • Using briefings of key findings and collective data interpretation with program officers via methods like Mural activities, After Action Reviews, and reflection time. • Lessons learned