Guide To Trend Mapping

A trend map is a visual depiction of relevant trends influencing the system around a given topic. Developing a trend map can help a group deepen their understanding of an issue through exploring related history, identifying key external factors, and tracking shifts in social and cultural norms. This guide will walk you through a feasibility assessment as well as how to prepare for and facilitate a trend mapping activity

The Role of the Health Care Sector in Expanding Economic Opportunity

This report provides an overview and critical assessment of the ways in which multinational pharmaceutical companies currently participate in expanding economic opportunities in developing countries. As pharmaceutical companies become more involved in both business and philanthropic activities in developing countries, it will be important for each company to identify the best strategies available to it to create new economic opportunities and to leverage the benefits of activities already underway. While the primary focus of the industry is, and will most likely continue to be, on increasing access to health care, the potential for expanding economic opportunities through its activities should not be overlooked as a significant outcome. The analysis and case studies contained in the report highlight companies' contributions to economic opportunity expansion through job creation, training and capacity building, and shaping public policy. The report also offers recommendations for future work to increase economic opportunities. This paper is part of the Economic Opportunity Series published by the CSR Initiative at Harvard University Kennedy School

Mobilizing Resources for the Human Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People: Challenges and Opportunities

Funding for work to advance the human rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) issues across the globe is surprisingly scarce. Approximately $10 million USD was spent in total on LGBT issues in the Global South and East in 2005, compared to$336 million to support 48 LGBT rights organizations based only in the United States in the same year. Ninety-three percent of funders who do not currently support LGBT human rights work in the Global South and East acknowledge the human rights community's responsibility to help advance it. This report is intended to help mobilize additional funding for LGBT human rights work by identifying obstacles to increased funding among human rights funders, exploring the implications of those obstacles and surfacing approaches to mitigate or overcome them

Mobilizing Resources for the Human Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) People: Challenges and Opportunities

Based on a survey of funders, identifies barriers to increased funding for global LGBT human rights work and the implications. Outlines strategies including peer-to-peer networking, capacity-building for intermediaries, and tapping bilateral aid agencies

Breakthroughs in Shared Measurement and Social Impact

A surprising new breakthrough is emerging in the social sector: A handful of innovative organizations have developed web-based systems for reporting the performance, measuring the outcomes, and coordinating the efforts of hundreds or even thousands of social enterprises within a field. These nascent efforts carry implications well beyond performance measurement, foreshadowing the possibility of profound changes in the vision and effectiveness of the entire nonprofit sector. This paper, based on six months of interviews and research by FSG Social Impact Advisors, examines twenty efforts to develop shared approaches to performance, outcome, or impact measurement across multiple organizations. The accompanying appendices include a short description of each system and four more in-depth case studies

Shifting Mindsets: How Meaningful Accountability Systems Can Strengthen Foundation Learning and Improve Impact

This article explores what it looks like when a foundation attempts to integrate accountability and learning practices, and presents a framework for the unique and complementary contributions that accountability and learning can make to the work of foundations. The article also looks at the tensions that can arise when a foundation’s internal evaluation staff attempt to design, implement, and make use of accountability systems. Specifically, it identifies three problematic perspectives that can hold foundations back from full engagement in internally driven accountability initiatives, and offers practical guidance on how to shift these mindsets to more productive practices. It concludes by calling on evaluation and program staff, foundation leaders, and board members to address the structural, cultural, and mental barriers to constructive accountability systems in philanthropy. In doing so, the authors hope to prompt reflection and action that will strengthen foundation practice and support greater philanthropic impact

Financing equitable transit oriented development in Denver, San Francisco, and the rest of the nation

Thesis (M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 2012.This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.Cataloged from student submitted PDF version of thesis. "June, 2012."Includes bibliographical references (p. 86-94).Equitable TOD is an integrated approach to community development that links affordable housing production and preservation strategies to regional transportation and economic development planning. This approach has strong potential to improve access to opportunities for low- and moderate-income families; however, the current community development finance system is ill-equipped to address the significant and complex financial needs of equitable TOD. In response to this challenge, two public-private funds have been established to make available new financial tools that help expand access to equitable TOD. Through a review of the literature and interviews with practitioners, funders, and researchers in the field of community development, this thesis explores how the $15M Denver TOD Fund and the$50M San Francisco Bay Area Transit-Oriented Affordable Housing Fund overcame the barriers to financing equitable TOD, and what their successes and challenges imply for the future of the national community development finance system. I argue that the funds have made an important physical impact on local communities, but their ability to meet the need for equitable TOD is severely constrained by their small scale. I find that the funds have had important effects on the broader community development finance system, and that these effects have extended the funds' impact beyond the scale of their direct investments. I identify four key effects: improved understanding of the need for equitable TOD; increased participation by key financial institutions; creation of new financial products; and improved alignment of public and private funding sources. Building on the funds' success and momentum, I recommend three policy changes to facilitate the development of equitable TOD at the national scale: first, the creation of a federal policy environment that encourages investment in equitable TOD through coordinated planning and targeted financial incentives; second, the devotion of significantly greater public resources for equitable TOD; and third, the enhancement of the capacity of CDFIs and other organizations to take advantage of new opportunities for equitable TOD.by Marcie Elizabeth Parkhurst.M.C.P

Guide to Evaluating Collective Impact Supplement: Sample Questions, Outcomes and Indicators

As collective impact has gained traction across the globe, demand has grown for an effective approach to evaluating collective impact initiatives that meets the needs of various interested parties. Collective impact practitioners seek timely, high-quality data that enables reflection and informs strategic and tactical decision making. Funders and other supporters require an approach to performance measurement and evaluation that can offer evidence of progress toward the initiative's goals at different points along the collective impact journey. This three part series responds to these needs by offering practitioners, funders, and evaluators a way to think about, plan for, and implement different performance measurement and evaluation activities

Guide to Evaluating Collective Impact: Assessing Progress and Impact

As collective impact has gained traction across the globe, demand has grown for an effective approach to evaluating collective impact initiatives that meets the needs of various interested parties. Collective impact practitioners seek timely, high-quality data that enables reflection and informs strategic and tactical decision making. Funders and other supporters require an approach to performance measurement and evaluation that can offer evidence of progress toward the initiative's goals at different points along the collective impact journey. This three part series responds to these needs by offering practitioners, funders, and evaluators a way to think about, plan for, and implement different performance measurement and evaluation activities

Guide to Evaluating Collective Impact: Learning and Evaluation in the Collective Impact Context

As collective impact has gained traction across the globe, demand has grown for an effective approach to evaluating collective impact initiatives that meets the needs of various interested parties. Collective impact practitioners seek timely, high-quality data that enables reflection and informs strategic and tactical decision making. Funders and other supporters require an approach to performance measurement and evaluation that can offer evidence of progress toward the initiative's goals at different points along the collective impact journey. This three-part report responds to these needs by offering practitioners, funders, and evaluators a way to think about, plan for, and implement different performance measurement and evaluation activities