We excel in situations where our clients are engaged in innovative social change, are committed to learning, and view measurement as a method to propel their thinking and strategies around future practices.
Introducing the organizations
A big thank you to each organization that applied for the “30 Gives 30: Paying It Forward Award” and all the community partners that voted in the finalist round. We have enjoyed learning about the important work of each organization that applied, ranging from education and the arts, to housing and delivering wraparound services to different communities. After a careful review process, we’ve selected the 3 organizations that we will work in partnership with to deliver 30 hours of pro bono consultation.
The award recipients were chosen through a thoughtful process with criteria such as a focus on advancing equity and the potential impact of their work to their target community. Ultimately, we selected awardees that we felt are best aligned to these criteria and to the work and values of ORS Impact.
Congratulations to the following 3 organizations that were chosen to receive 30 hours of pro bono consultation services!
Seattle Music Partners cultivates a diverse and vibrant music-making community by providing youth with free music instruction (instruments and accessories included) and one-on-one mentoring and transportation to eliminate racial and economic barriers to quality music education. They believe that music is a powerful tool for inspiring and empowering young people and that it should be available to all children on an equitable basis.
Seattle Music Partners is requesting a Theory of Change that will eventually help unite their staff in efforts towards a common goal. They are also requesting a logic model that could act as a living document and help provide shared language for their staff to use as they discuss broad concepts in social justice and youth development day to day.
West African Community Council's (WACC) passion is to advocate, organize, assist, educate and support West African community members while preserving our tradition, culture, social, religious and moral beliefs. Their programs include a multilingual Seattle Pathways Preschool, ParentChild+ Program, DSHS Family Preservation Services, Immigration Legal Services, Labor Standards Outreach and Intake, Parent/Caregiver Support Program, family counseling, among others.
WACC has experienced a period of unusually rapid growth–on pace with and in response to growing community need–over the past few years as both their program and staff have expanded. They believe that assistance with a Theory of Change and logic model would 1) help “tell the story” of their organization’s efforts to the community and funders and 2) help staff and board see how all of their efforts fit together and where the gaps are in current service delivery. They believe a TOC and logic model may also increase the visibility of the organization as a means to both let the community know about their services and to highlight the needs of the West African immigrant community in the Puget Sound region.
All Seattle Kids Home (ASKH) is a fairly new woman of color led non-profit that strives to provide culturally appropriate case management services to unaccompanied minors and youth and families that are at imminent risk of homelessness in King County. ASKH is expanding and is also committed to working on issues of food security, housing access, and eviction prevention in collaboration with communities of color.
With only two full-time paid employees, ASKH is trying to secure funding so that they can build capacity and continue to do great work. The biggest impediment to this is articulating the great work they do to funders and other people who support ASKH in partnership. They are looking to ORS Impact to engage in a Theory of Change process that could focus on strategies and identifying important areas for measurement. A Theory of Change would help identify key learning questions or outcomes that would better secure and organize their data.
As we wrap up our community engagement process and begin working with the 3 awardees, we once again say THANK YOU for supporting us and our social impact mission over the last 30 years. We are truly grateful for the opportunity to work with local partners and support their work towards a more socially just, equitable, and vibrant community.
Timeline
Award Timeline and Links
Q&A Webinar 10.01.19
Applications Due 10.16.19
Winners Announced 12.03.19
Award Guidelines >
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Feature Report
Ongoing measurement, learning and evaluation efforts hold the promise of continuous improvement, better accountability and learning, and—ultimately—more successful work. This piece shares five insights we believe are key.
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Feature resource
Theories of change support strategic planning, evaluation designs and Measurement, Learning and Evaluation (MLE) plans. Learn more about its definition, applications, benefits, formats and considerations with this useful handout.