Midcourse Corrections to a Major Initiative

From PhilanthropyWiki

Title: Midcourse Corrections to a Major Initiative Author: Gary Walker Type: Project evaluation Focus: Planning and adjusting large-scale philanthropic programs Date: May 2007 Publisher: The James Irvine Foundation Download: From the James Irvine Foundation website

This paper shares knowledge gained by The James Irvine Foundation at the midpoint of its CORAL (Communities Organizing Resources to Advance Learning) initiative. The CORAL initiative was the largest undertaking by the Foundation in its history, originally envisiaged as costing $60 million over eight years. However, a number of factors led to the Foundation making changes to the initiative midstream.

This paper details the lessons which the James Irvine Foundation has learned about the pitfalls of planning and adjusting large-scale philanthropic programs, which it wishes to share with peer foundations and others pursuing ambitious social change objectives. Among the lessons learned, which are expanded upon in the full paper, are:

• Do not commit to a major initiative without a well-vetted theory of change, clear interim outcmes, and a field-tested information system that produces reliable outcome data.
• Think critically about the facts on which the initiative is based.
• Think equally critically about grantee and staff capacities and their alignment with initiative priorities.
• Make external, midcourse review a planned event in large-scale initiatives.
• Establish ongoing and structural internal oversight of initiative performance.
• Be cautious about calls for more time, more resources and more assistance.