Many tech founders we speak to are engaged in ‘trust-based’ philanthropy, a style of giving that shifts power dynamics and allows funded organisations to allocate grants within their organisation as they see fit.
Funders still want to understand if their gift has made a difference, but how should they go about that equitably?
This new guide from Philea – Philanthropy Europe Association provides six core principles for funders to consider when monitoring, evaluating and learning with trust and equity:
- Being intentional is the foundation for a trusting and equitable approach. Increasing clarity and direction helps create transparency for grant-holders, ensures scarce resources are allocated where they can make most difference, and enables equity to be centred from the start.
- Monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) is about more than assessing the impact of your grants. ‘Turning the lens’ and looking inwards is key to creating better grant-making practices, while looking outwards is vital to understanding how you can make the most impact.
- Proportionality is at the heart of good monitoring and evaluation practice. Fundamentally, this means evidence collected is of real value to different stakeholders. Requirements will need to be adapted to stay proportionate. In some instances, this may mean collecting less data, in some instances more.
- Approaches and methods must fit evidence and learning needs. This means questioning default approaches, such as written reporting or evaluation for programs over a certain value. Instead, be guided by what sources will provide the most meaningful kinds of information to answer learning and accountability needs.
- Make the most of evidence both for you and for others. Ensure there is adequate investment in time and skills to bring together and share learning, and reflect on what you will do differently.
- Bring in other voices. Reflect on whose views should be considered, who gets to decide, and how can you share your power as a funder. This will take time and resources, so opportunities for input should be meaningful and participants should be compensated.
Read the free guide for grant-makers and philanthropists. It provides practical steps and considerations about how measurement and evaluation can be done in ways which are more trusting and equitable, while providing the right kind of evidence and insights to improve your practice.
