Going Nowhere, Fast: Why Objectivity and Efficiency are Not Enough
For our clients and partners in the social sector, the tension between objective efficiency and subjective social good is felt every time they’re asked to calculate the ROI of a person no longer sleeping in the cold or the economic impact of community solidarity. It’s not that such returns don’t exist, it’s that they fail to capture virtually any of what actually makes such work important.
Making “Theory of Change” Matter
A theory of change, when done well, is more than a schematic. It’s a window into the strategic thinking of an organization—how it understands the problem it's trying to solve, the levers it believes can move that problem, and the assumptions that undergird every action it takes. For funders, engaging seriously with a grantee’s theory of change isn’t just due diligence, it’s a way to deepen partnership, surface learning opportunities, and sharpen impact.