Around 7/18-7/24
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Category Archives: Uncategorized
Around Town 7/4-7/11
HAPPY 4th of JULY WEEKEND! The Catalogue team wishes everyone a fun, safe, and hurricane-free holiday. When you return home next week from vacation, check out some great events hosted by our nonprofits. Nothing better to help beat the back-to-work blues.
Around Town 6/27-7/3
With a beautiful weekend ahead of us, and on the heels of an exciting US advancement in the World Cup, we encourage you to check out our packed weekend of events! Summer is a great time to get out and meet our amazing nonprofits and enjoy all that they have to offer. Fun for all!
Friday, June 27, 2014
Garden Workday @ Girard Children’s Community Garden
City Blossoms
Workdays are scheduled sessions that include FREE staff-led activities for children (Fridays are Market Stand days!!), families, volunteers and anyone who wants to drop by! You Help You Harvest: When available any helping hands get to take home fresh garden goodies.
When: Fri Jun 27 2014 (4:00 PM – 6:00 PM)
Where: Girard Children’s Community Garden, 15th & Girard Sts NW, Washington, DC 20009
Fee no
Volunteer Info: Volunteers are welcome — just drop by!
Contact: City Blossoms, (443) 854-1669
For more information:click here
Sunset Tour of the Anacostia
Anacostia Watershed Society
For the first time AWS will offer an opportunity for community members to experience the sunset on the water in the Anacostia. It is a relaxing trip with opportunities to observe active wildlife. Participants will be taken via our large pontoon boat to see the best views the Anacostia has to offer. Register now as the event is capped at 20 participants.
When: Fri Jun 27 2014 (6:30 PM – 9:00 PM)
Where: Bladensburg Waterfront Park, 4601 Annapolis Road, Bladensburg, MD 20710
Fee? yes $29
Contact: Paul Ryberg, (301) 699-6204
For more information: click here
An Evening with Debbi Morgan: The Monkey on my Back
Family Crisis Center of Prince George’s County
This one-women show is a deeply personal memoir about television and film actress Debbi Morgan’s journey through a legacy of fear and abuse, which spanned three generations of women, beginning with Debbi’s grandmother, her mother, and Debbi herself. After the show, join us for a reception, book signing & meet and greet. Doors open at 6pm.
When: Fri Jun 27 2014 (7:00 PM)
Where: Hallam Theatre – Prince George’s Community College, 301 Largo Road, Largo, MD 20774
Fee? yes $40 in advance; $45 at the box office (cash only)
Contact:Shirley Schreffler, (301) 779-2100
For more information:click here
Saturday, June 28, 2014
Recreational Fishing Day
Anacostia Watershed Society
Please join Anacostia Watershed Society, University of Maryland College Park, and Anacostia Community Museum for a day of recreational fishing! We will provide fishing rods and bait on a first-come, first-served basis (bring your own if you prefer). Each participant will receive a gift card valued at $10 for providing us with your catch (per DC fishing regulations)! All ages and experience levels are welcome. Please register so you can be notified if inclement weather cancels the event.
When: Sat Jun 28 2014 (08:00 AM – 1:00 PM)
Where: Hains Point, 927 Ohio Dr SW, Washington, DC 20242
Fee? no
Volunteer Info: We are looking for 5 – 10 volunteers to help with event logistics (e.g., help with participant registration for those who provide caught fish, direct and check on participants, take GPS coordinates, distribute supplies and gift cards, assist with proper labeling and storage of fish samples). If you would like to help, please let us know in either the ‘Please share reasons for participating’ section or the ‘How did you hear about AWS’ section when you register and we will contact you with more details.
Contact: Lori Baranoff, (301) 699-6204 ext 107
For more information:click here
Invasive Removal — Glover Archbold Meadow
Rock Creek Conservancy (formerly Friends of Rock Creek’s Environment)
We will be continuing our work to restore the meadow in Glover Archbold Park by removing invasive plant species. The majority of the volunteers will be removing invasive plant species, so please make sure you wear appropriate clothing for the activity.
When: Sat Jun 28 2014 (09:00 AM – 12:00 NOON)
Where: Glover Archbold section of Rock Creek Park, Macomb St & Massachusetts Ave NW: walk 1000 feet NW on Mass towards Nebraska Ave. Trail entrance is on the left side of Mass Ave. and the meadow (meeting location) is .25 mi down the trail., Washington, DC 20016
Fee? no
Volunteer Info: Tools, gloves, and training on how to identify and cut invasives will be provided. Volunteers will mainly be pulling wineberry and early garlic mustard. Trained Weed Warriors will be able to do vines and ivy. Ages 16 and up to use tools. What to Wear: Please wear long pants and a long sleeve shirt. Wear sturdy boots or sneakers, no sandals. What to Bring: Bring water. Tools and gloves will be provided. Feel free to bring your own tools and gloves if you have them. Students can earn SSL hours, but please bring needed forms.
Contact: Peter Forbes, (202) 237-8866
For more information:click here
Invasive Removal — Melvin Hazen East
Rock Creek Conservancy (formerly Friends of Rock Creek’s Environment)
Join Rock Creek Conservancy and the National Park Service in removing invasive plant species from the eastern half of the Melvin Hazen section in Rock Creek Park. Tools, gloves, and training on how to identify and cut invasives will be provided. Ages 16 and up to use tools.
When: Sat Jun 28 2014 (09:00 AM – 11:00 AM)
Where: Melvin Hazen Trail Head, Quebec ST NW (From Connecticut Avenue, turn onto Quebec Street N.W. ( not to be confused with Quebec Place N.W.) and follow until it hits a dead end. The trail head to Melvin Hazen is on the left side street. On-street parking is limited), Washington, DC 20016
Fee? no
Volunteer Info: Tools, gloves, and training on how to identify and cut invasives will be provided. Ages 16 and up to use tools. What to Wear: Please wear long pants and a long sleeve shirt. Wear sturdy boots or sneakers, no sandals. What to Bring: Bring water. Tools and gloves will be provided. Feel free to bring your own tools and gloves if you have them. Students can earn SSL hours, but please bring needed forms.
Contact: Rena Subotnik, (202) 237-8866
For more information:click here
Distribution Day
DC Diaper Bank
Our distribution days are one of the most exciting and important days at DC Diaper Bank. This is the day we distribute more than 50,000 diapers to over 18 amazing organizations across the DC Metro area. Come join us as we help these great organization fill their trucks with much needed diapers for the families that they serve.
When: Sat Jun 28 2014 (10:00 AM – 1:00 PM)
Where: DC Diaper Bank Warehouse 8858 Monard Drive, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
Fee? no
Volunteer Info: Sorting and packing diapers; helping with other inventory
Contact: Corinne Cannon, (202) 656-8503
Garden Workday @ Marion Street Intergenerational Garden
City Blossoms
Workdays are scheduled sessions that include FREE staff-led activities for children (Thursdays are recipe days!!), families, volunteers and anyone who wants to drop by! You Help You Harvest: When available any helping hands get to take home fresh garden goodies.
When: Sat Jun 28 2014 (4:00 PM – 6:00 PM)
Where: Marion Street Intergenerational Garden, 1519 Marion St NW, Washington, DC 20001
Fee? no
Volunteer Info: Volunteers are welcome — just drop by!
Contact: City Blossoms, (443) 854-1669
For more information:click here
Garden Workday @ Girard Children’s Community Garden
City Blossoms
Workdays are scheduled sessions that include FREE staff-led activities for children, families, volunteers and anyone who wants to drop by! You Help You Harvest: When available any helping hands get to take home fresh garden goodies.
When: Sat Jun 28 2014 (4:00 PM – 6:00 PM)
Where: Girard Children’s Community Garden, 15th & Girard Sts NW, Washington, DC 20009
Fee? no
Volunteer Info: Volunteers are welcome — just drop by!
Contact: City Blossoms, (443) 854-1669
For more information:click here
La Traviata
The In Series
The In Series celebrates the completion of 25 years producing pocket-opera with a Verdi masterpiece, as the wordwide celebration of the master’s 200th birthday year ends. Based on Dumas’ Lady Of The Camelias, La Traviata is the intimate story of a not-socially-acceptable love affair that continues to touch our souls with its heart-breaking music. Director: Nick Olcott Music Director: Carlos Rodriguez
When: Sat Jun 28 2014 (8:00 PM)
Where: GALA Hispanic Theatre, 3333 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20010
Fee? yes $44 general admission; $40 seniors; $22 students with school id & children
Volunteer Info: Usher, box office
Contact: Gregory Stuart, Executive Assistant, (202) 204-7765
For more information:click here
Extra! Extra! Find out who will be featured by the Catalogue in 2014-2015!
The Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington is honored to announce our newest group of local charities recognized as among *the best* in our region. The 12th edition of the Catalogue for Philanthropy will feature 78 organizations in its print Catalogue, and an additional 18 organizations online. To see the full list of organizations, click here.
Spanning across all four categories of Nature, Culture, Education, and Human Services, each charity selected for the Catalogue underwent a rigorous vetting process conducted by our 120+ person review team.
One of the highlights from this year’s list includes five “growth” charities that increased their operating budget above Catalogue’s $3 million limit since their last application (charities may re-apply to the Catalogue every 4 years). A big “congratulations” to DC Bilingual Public Charter School, Jubilee Housing, Latin American Montessori Bilingual Public Charter School, Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia, and United States Capitol Historical Society on their growth!
What’s next? Over the next several months, the Catalogue team will be working hard to write, edit, and produce the 2014-2015 Catalogue so it can be used as a valuable guide to giving by more than 25,000 individuals in our region during the holiday season (and beyond). While the 2014-2015 Catalogue won’t be mailed until November 1st, you can still view our 2013-2014 charities or browse the digital edition of the Catalogue at Catalogue-DC.org.
A special thank you to our dedicated review team, partners, board members, and Catalogue staff who made this application and review process one of our best yet. Stay tuned for future blog posts when we’ll give you a peek inside the Catalogue production process!
Changing the Way we Think about Charity: Nonprofit Roundtable Annual Meeting
On Tuesday, hundreds of nonprofit and community leaders gathered at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center for the Nonprofit Roundtable’s Annual Meeting.
The meeting provided an opportunity to network, recognize the impact of leaders in the nonprofit sector, and learn about the Roundtable’s strategic plan for 2014 and beyond to “bring forward the leadership, voice and vision of our nonprofit community.”
Dan Pallotta, keynote speaker for the event, gave a thought-provoking talk based on his book, Uncharitable, about why charities should let go of old belief systems that hold us back from big change. Below are some of the key takeaways captured by the Catalogue team:
- If we want to see social problems fixed on a grand scale, we must change the way we think about our approach to solving them. Simply thinking “out of the box” is not enough. We need to understand what’s inside the box: what works, what doesn’t, and what has held us back from making a bigger, lasting impact on our communities.
- “If you prohibit failure, you squash innovation.” We must let go of our fear of failure, since innovation is critical to driving change.
- Stop telling nonprofits to “be more like a business.” Often, this phrase is intended to mean “be more efficient.” What it should mean is this: be more like a business by investing in your people, your marketing and advertising, and new revenue ideas. When businesses do this, they see a return in talent, awareness and engagement.
- When evaluating a charity, we need to let go of the idea that “one number” can represent its efficacy. Instead, we should be measuring a charity’s intention to have an impact, its progress towards making those goals, and how it will distribute this information.
At the Catalogue, we’re looking forward to next year’s event, and continuing our work with the Nonprofit Roundtable in 2014!
To learn more about Dan Pallotta and Uncharitable,visit:?http://www.danpallotta.com/index.php
About The Nonprofit Roundtable: The Nonprofit Roundtable is an alliance of over 300 nonprofits and community partners building the strength, visibility, and influence of the nonprofit sector to improve the quality of life for all in the Greater Washington region.
Around Town 3/21-3/27
Happy Spring! Looking for a great way to enjoy the end of winter (knock on wood!)? Check out these fun events that Catalogue nonprofits are putting on across the region!
Friday, March 21, 2014
DC Law Students in Court Spring Open House
DC Law Students In Court Program
Please join us at our new home for a spring celebration! Come meet our current class of students, alumni, and see our new office space. Free drinks and refreshments will be served. Music by DJ Al Carry (LSIC Staff)
When: Fri Mar 21 2014 (4:00 PM – 7:00 PM)
Where: DCLSIC Office 4340 Connecticut Ave., NW Suite 100 Washington DC 20008
Fee? no
Contact: Angela Wang, (202) 638-4798 ext 207
For more information: click here
Irish Songs & Spring Songs @ Washington Revels
Washington Revels
Washington Revels & Carpe Diem Community Sing: Welcoming the Spring & Celebrating Irish-American Heritage Month! 6:30-7:15 Children’s songs 7:15-8 pm All ages sing Please bring a song to share if you wish. Sign up in advance by contacting busygraham@gmail.com / 301-466-0183
When: Fri Mar 21 2014 (6:30 PM)
Where: Washington Revels Community Room, 531 Dale Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20910
Fee? no
Contact: Graham, (301) 466-0183
For more information: click here
Hexagon’s Midterm Madness!
Sarah’s Circle
Sarah’s Circle is the 2014 beneficiary for Hexagon, Washington’s only original political satirical musical comedy revue. Throughout the month of March 2014, Hexagon will be delighting audiences with its hilarious season, Midterm Madness, and will donate every penny of profit to the work of Sarah’s Circle more event info >
Double Time Jazz @ THEARC Theater presents Shana Tucker
Building Bridges Across the River t/a THEARC
Transcending genre distinctions, SHANA TUCKER is a “ChamberSoul” cellist and singer/songwriter whose music is a sultry pastiche of acoustic pop and soulful, jazz-influenced contemporary folk. Many of the grooves have a bossa-nova/latin heartbeat, translated through percussive vocal phrasing. Join us for a fantastic Jazz experience!
When: Fri Mar 21 2014 (8:00 PM)
Where:THEARC 1901 Mississippi Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20020
Fee? yes $20
Contact: Jasmine Taylor, (202) 889-5901 ext 106
For more information: click here
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Vasa Ride
Washington Area Bicyclist Association
Don’t pack up your ski goggles just yet! Bid farewell to the chilly winter months with WABA’s first organized bike ride of the season. Join 500 winter warrior bicyclists of all ages and experience levels at the House of Sweden on the morning of Sat., March 22 for a fun, noncompetitive ride through D.C. and Maryland. Fifteen-mile, 31-mile, and 59-mile routes are available (please note these route lengths are approximate). At the ride’s end, all riders are invited to the House of Sweden for blueberry soup, a Swedish tradition.
When: Sat Mar 22 2014 (07:45 AM – 1:00 PM)
Where: House of Sweden, 2900 K St. NW, Washington, DC 20007
Fee? yes $20 – WABA members; $40 non members
Volunteer Info: We need volunteers at the House of Sweden to help run rider check in and greet riders when they return for the blueberry soup, as well as ride marshals to help guide the bicyclists safely on the ride.
Contact: WABA, (202) 518-0524
For more information: click here
H2O Summitedit
Potomac Riverkeeper
Want to get more involved in your community and environment? Join Potomac Riverkeeper President, Matthew Logan, as he MC’s the 4th Annual H20 Summit in Silver Spring. The event is free and open to the public. Enjoy free refreshments, live music, free workshops for the whole family and crafts for the kids. Meet with over 50 different watershed groups, and learn about issues affecting your local water bodies and wildlife. Don’t miss Matthew from 2:00-3:00PM as he speaks about issues affecting the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers and our work to protect our water.
When: Sat Mar 22 2014 (09:30 AM – 4:00 PM)
Where: Silver Spring Civic Center, 1 Veterans Place, Silver Spring, MD 20910
Fee? no
Contact: Ryan Zerbe, (240) 777-7744
For more information: click here
“Hoppy” Hour Benefit @ Churchkey DC
Potomac Riverkeeper
Join us for an ice cold brew made from the sweet water of your local rivers. Come celebrate World Water Day and tip your glass in support of Potomac and Shenandoah Riverkeeper at Churchkey in DC, presented by Sweet Water Brewery Company.
When: Sat Mar 22 2014 (4:00 PM – 7:00 PM)
Where: Churchkey DC, 1337 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20005
Fee? yes per beverage
Contact: Potomac Riverkeeper, (202) 429-3946
For more information: click here
Hexagon’s Midterm Madness!
Sarah’s Circle
Sarah’s Circle is the 2014 beneficiary for Hexagon, Washington’s only original political satirical musical comedy revue. Throughout the month of March 2014, Hexagon will be delighting audiences with its hilarious season, Midterm Madness, and will donate every penny of profit to the work of Sarah’s Circle, which provides supportive, affordable housing to very low-income senior citizens in Washington, DC. We hope you will join us for a show!
When: Sat Mar 22 2014 (8:00 PM)
Where: Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center, 7995 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20910
Fee? yes $30 per ticket
Volunteer Info: We also need volunteers to serve in a variety of functions: front-of-house services, set builders and painters, etc. Please contact Hexagon via www.hexagon.org for more information.
Contact: Jessica Petro, (202) 332-1400 ext 11
For more information: click here
Daughter of the Struggle
Joe’s Movement Emporium/World Arts Focus
An inspiring and unforgettable one-woman show brought to you by Free Soul Productions starring Ayanna Gregory with special guest, comedian, civil rights activist, Dick Gregory.
When: Sat Mar 22 2014 (8:00 PM)
Where: Joe’s Movement Emporium, 3309 Bunker Hill Road, Mount Rainier, ME 20712
Fee? yes $25 General; $15 Youth
Contact: , (301) 699-1819
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Bright Beginnings 5K
Bright Beginnings
Put your feet in motion on Sunday, March 23 at the 2014 Bright Beginnings 5K for homeless children and families in DC. Bright Beginnings, Inc. is a 501(c)3 organization that provides educational, therapeutic, health and family services free of charge to homeless infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, and their families. All proceeds from the 5K directly support Bright Beginnings’ programming that prepares young children for kindergarten and helps their families get back on their feet. Run, walk, or join the stroller brigade, and set up a fundraiser to help us raise $25k for DC’s homeless children!
When: Sun Mar 23 2014 (08:00 AM)
Where: West Potomac Park at Hains Point, Ericcson Circle at Ohio Drive SW, Washington, DC 20037
Fee? yes $30 per adult; $20 kids 12 and under
Contact:Whitney Faison, (202) 842-9090
For more information:click here
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Equality Happy Hour with DC Vote
DC Vote
Join us for the spring Equality Happy Hour and make a toast to Executive Director Kimberly Perry’s one year anniversary at DC Vote as we aim to engage greater support in the fight for equal rights and full citizenship. So bring a friend. The evening will feature a good cause, good networking and a DC equality themed signature cocktail. We’ll see you there!
When: Wed Mar 26 2014 (5:00 PM – 7:00 PM)
Where: Bar-Code, 1101 17th ST NW, Washington, DC 20036
Fee? yes for all beverages **20% of the HH proceeds benefit DC Vote
Contact: DC Vote, (202) 462-6000
For more information: click here
One Hour, One World Tour
Ayuda
If you would like to get a first person introduction to Ayuda’s work and learn how you could get involved, please join us for one of our frequent One Hour, One World tours. Please sign up for a time and feel free to bring friends. (Tours are conducted in English)
When: Wed Mar 26 2014 (6:00 PM – 7:00 PM)
Where: Ayuda DC office, 6925B Willow Street NW, Washington, DC 20012
Fee? no
Contact: Elise Webb, (202) 387-4848 ext 130
For more information: click here
Thinking Beyond Barbie: Empowering Girls in Greater Washington
Michelle Obama.
Sheryl Sandberg.
Oprah Winfrey.
Mrs. Potato Head?
This unlikely combination of women has more in common than meets the eye: Each plays a role (whether consciously or not) in inspiring confidence in young girls to pursue their career ambitions, no matter how big. There are dozens of other female leaders who do so much each day to empower young women, yet according to a recent study, one pop culture icon is not likely to make the cut: Barbie.
A recent study coming out of Oregon State University suggests that little girls playing with Barbie “believe there are more careers for boys than for themselves” — a contrast from girls playing with Mrs. Potato Head, who see an equal range of career opportunities for girls and boys.
Of course, more research on this topic is needed in order fully to understand the impact of dolls on girls’ aspirations, but one key takeaway is that we must inspire confidence in girls so they don’t hesitate to think “big” and think beyond the stereotypes that hold them back. We can do this not only through the toys we buy for our children, but also through the stories we tell, and the activities in which we participate.
For several Catalogue for Philanthropy charities, such as Girls on the Run (DC and Montgomery County) and The Washington School for Girls, inspiring confidence in girls is a central part of their mission. Find out below how you can show your support, and stay tuned to the Catalogue for Philanthropy blog this month as we celebrate Women’s History Month by highlighting other important women’s issues that are a key focus for some of our charities.
Girls on the Run
The Catalogue for Philanthropy is proud to have two local Girls on the Run Councils in our network of charities. Using the sport of running as basis for inspiration and motivation, GOTR program participants meet twice per week in small teams where they learn life skills while celebrating the joy of movement. At each season’s conclusion, participants complete a 5k running event, giving them a tangible sense of achievement as well as a framework for setting and achieving life goals.
Girls on the Run — DC: GOTR-DC has a variety of volunteer opportunities available, from one-time volunteer opportunities to coaching for a 10-week season. GOTR-DC is currently looking for volunteers for the GW Classic 10 Miler on April 13th, and is also taking names for those interested in coaching for the Fall 2014 season.
Interested in supporting with a donation? For $185, you can cover a full scholarship for 1 runner; $750: running shoes for an entire team; $3,000: a full scholarship for a full team next season (great idea for a corporate fundraiser!)
Girls on the Run of Montgomery County is also looking for coaches and one-time volunteers. Check out the volunteer page for more detail on specific needs.
Interested in supporting with a donation? $100 will cover a full scholarship for 1 season; $500: running shoes for one team of 15 girls; $1000: race fees for 75 parents to run alongside their daughters. Also, don’t forget about SoleMates, which lets you run a marathon or a triathlon while raising money for MoCo’s Girls on the Run Council.
The Washington School for Girls
The Washington School for Girls is an all-girl, grades 4-8, Catholic school located in Anacostia. Its mission is to offer a solid and holistic education to young girls, and it is committed to believing in their gifts, talents and potential. WSG offers a range of volunteer opportunities: from one-time visits – where volunteers participate in a career fair, leadership series presentation or fundraising event – to weekly tutoring, hosting student clubs during Extended Day and office support.
Interested in supporting with a donation? $100 covers 10 books for the Reading Circle; $500: 1 laptop for a WMSG teacher; $1000: transportation for 3 field trips for 1 class.
We hope you’ll support these wonderful organizations and their missions to empower girls in our region!
Around Town 3/10-3/13
We are back in action with a special Monday edition of Around Town! If you are looking to make your week a little bit more lively, check out these great events put on by Catalogue nonprofits!
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Tuesday Warehouse Volunteering
DC Diaper Bank
Come help us in the warehouse! Volunteering is family friendly and all are welcome whether it’s for one hour or four. We’ll be sorting and packing diapers and even little hands can help with that (or just play in the play area!). Our Volunteer Dates are a great way to starting talking about giving back and community in a very tangible way that kids can relate to well.
When: Tue Mar 11 2014 (09:00 AM – 1:00 PM)
Where: DC Diaper Bank Warehouse 8858 Monard Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20910
Fee? no
Volunteer Info: Sorting and packing diapers; helping with other inventory
Contact: Heather Foley, (202) 656-8503
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Speaker Series on Recreation & Cultural Activities for Seniors
Senior Services of Alexandria
Learn about the many activities and programs available for Alexandria’s mature adults including: Aquatics and Rec Centers; Classes and Clubs; Parks & Open Spaces; Robust Walking and the Alexandria Library Programs and Series.
When: Wed Mar 12 2014 (09:30 AM – 12:00 NOON)
Where: Chinquapin Recreation Center, 3210 King Street Alexandria, VA 22304
Fee? no
Contact: ?, (703) 836-4414 ext 10
For more information:
One Hour, One World Tour
Ayuda
If you would like to get a first person introduction to Ayuda’s work and learn how you could get involved, please join us for one of our frequent One Hour, One World tours. Please sign up for a time and feel free to bring friends. (Tours are conducted in English)
When: Wed Mar 12 2014 (6:00 PM – 7:00 PM)
Where: Ayuda DC office, 6925B Willow Street NW, Washington, DC 20012
Fee? no
Contact: Elise Webb, (202) 387-4848 ext 130
For more information: click here
Impact — the New “It” Word: Evaluating the (Nonprofit) Evaluators, Part III
The following blog, written by Catalogue for Philanthropy President and Editor, Barbara Harman, was published in the Huffington Post on Tuesday, February 18th. It is the third post in a four-part series on the “evaluation problem.” Parts I and II can be found here and here.
“In Part II of this series, I noted that the watchdog organizations to which donors are typically directed do not, in fact, assess the quality of the programs that nonprofits create or the effectiveness of the work. Such organizations review finances, assess good governance, and provide valuable information, but they don’t answer the basic questions that donors should be asking. Is this nonprofit meeting a real need? Is it doing so with excellence? Is it having an impact on the community it serves?
“Impact,” of course, is the new “it” word — the gold standard (so we are told) for judging the value of social programs. Just check out the Office of Management and Budget’s webpage: according to the OMB the 2014 budget provides funding to increase “the use of evidence and evaluation to spread innovation and drive better results.” Nonprofits that don’t speak the language of results-oriented programming, or who don’t understand how to use data to represent results, may have a hard time holding on to the government support they currently enjoy. But it isn’t only the government that is asking the impact question. Watchdog groups like Charity Navigator are beginning to do so as well, and others will soon do the same.
Metrics measure something, but not everything. How do you measure the impact of arts classes on kids who live in homeless shelters? Or of sports programs that provide after-school options for young people who otherwise have none? If you can’t produce data that show these experiences lead to very concrete outcomes, does this make the experiences meaningless or imply that they have no result?
The truth is, it’s hard to measure most kinds of social value. Social problems are complex, and a good assessment has to begin with a good interpretation: what is the perceived need that an organization exists to address? What are the conditions within which it works? If I create a nonprofit designed to help young people graduate from high school and go on to college, it makes a difference where on the continuum these kids lie. Do they have parents who finished high school (or not)? Do they speak English as a first language (or not)? Are they attending high-performing schools (or not)? If I don’t look at the conditions, at the quality of the need, at the beginning of the story, then my measurement will be incomplete, misleading, and perhaps even wrong.
The point I have been trying to make in this and previous posts is that the work of evaluation is hard. But there is something about the language of impact assessment – using “evidence” to “drive results” – that belies the reality of this, that leads one to think the truth is entirely measurable, not at all in the province of human persons who are thinking and judging and analyzing. It’s no wonder so many nonprofits are hesitant about the process, feel excluded by it in advance, and worry that they won’t be able to meet its standards.
So we need broader and more complex kinds of measurements. But this is only part of the story. Nonprofits need to do important kinds of new thinking as well.
First of all, they need to articulate, examine, and codify their own beliefs, their ways of seeing the world. For a youth-serving arts program, this means articulating what the organization values and why it thinks these values have social meaning. The Boston Youth Arts Evaluation Project helpfully calls this identifying your “sacred bundle”: what do you think matters in the world? What are you trying to cultivate? What values underlie your work?
If you believe, for example, that creating art is empowering, that it generates in young people a grounded sense of self, a bond with adults, and, in turn, a positive connection with one’s community, then you know what you are trying to measure. Your “results” may have a different profile from those of an organization that seeks to reduce homelessness, or prepare adults for jobs, but what you are doing is still very significant: empowering disconnected youth is serious business. It just has a different way of talking about itself.
In other words, NEED and VALUE have to be part of the equation, both for nonprofits and for agencies and groups evaluating them. If we speak about impact without using these key words, without taking the measure of the world we inhabit, and without making judgments about what we value, our society and culture will be the poorer for it. We cannot allow this to happen.
Stay tuned for Part IV.”
Evaluating the (nonprofit) Evaluators: Part II
The following blog, written by Catalogue for Philanthropy President and Editor, Barbara Harman, was published in the Huffington Post on Tuesday, February 11th. It is the second post in a three-part series on the “evaluation problem.” Part I of this series can be found here.
Part II: The Evaluators
There is a new kid on the block that makes it possible to check reviews on some 11,000 charities. Charity Checker (sponsored by the Tampa Bay Times and the Center for Investigative Journalism) is designed to streamline the process of evaluation by aggregating reviews from the top reviewing entities into one easy-to-use tool. But what exactly is being aggregated, and what are the reviewers reviewing?
Charity Navigator is perhaps the most well-known of Charity Checker’s sources, and it currently examines the finances of about 7,000 of the over 1.5 million US charities. One of the early groups to focus attention on the ratio between administrative and program expenses, it last year signed, along with Guidestar and the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, a “pledge to end the overhead myth” — in other words, to stop focusing on overhead as the chief charity culprit. This amounted to an admission that reliance on a strict ratio of administrative to program expenses so widely hailed as the sign of a charity’s cost-effectiveness was not the holy grail, and that, indeed, nonprofits needed to invest in themselves if they were going to thrive. Charity Navigator (CN) continues to look at the ratio, but it also focuses more broadly on financial transparency as a key indicator and has begun to look at what it calls “results reporting” — how effective a charity is at reporting, in an evidence-based manner, its outcomes and impact. CN admits that too few organizations are in a position to measure impact in this manner and that the process is a “developmental” one, so “CN 3.0, ” as it is called, is not yet here.
Guidestar, another group that powers Charity Checker, is not actually a watchdog site at all. It is, according to Guidestar itself, a “comprehensive” information source. It awards logos (bronze, silver, gold) to participants for successful completion at different levels, of their profiles on the Guidestar Exchange. To a certain extent one can see why a gold rating, for example, might mean something important: filling out the profile demands that an organization reflect on itself, gather information and write about itself, and commit significant time and energy to the process. In other words, full participation registers meaningful organizational capacity. The information, assuming it is accurately reported, can also give a serious investor a lot to consider. But it is important to remember that Guidestar isn’t actually rating the charities or their programs. It assigns its logos/awards based on a charity’s level of participation, and leaves the analysis to the reader.
Great Nonprofits, the third source of Charity Checker’s information, is the Yelp or Zagat of the charity world: it invites readers (and encourages nonprofits to invite supporters) to rate charities the way you or I might rate a restaurant or doctor or retailer. Perhaps predictably, the reviews of about 12,000 charities vary widely in their usefulness. Some are incredibly thoughtful, others are … not; many reviewers simply don’t have the deep information they need to offer an informed opinion. There is something to be said for hearing what volunteers, staff, donors and clients have to say about nonprofits, but how do these ratings stack up against the serious due diligence that we are always urged to perform before we make a donation?
BBB’s Wise Giving Alliance, which covers approximately 1500 national charities (I was unable to find the exact number on its site) focuses on four key measures: good governance, financial accountability, truthfulness and transparency (“willingness to disclose basic information to the public”). These are all important standards, but I wonder how many donors who see the BBB seal on a charity’s site are aware of the fact that, in its own words, it does “not seek to evaluate the quality and content” of a charity’s performance and effectiveness. The standards are all “best practices” in the field, and the very process of seeking to meet them will, at minimum, educate a charity about how it should govern itself and provide relevant information to the public about its operations. But there is no evaluation here of programmatic quality.
Charity Checker combines into one accessible site the ratings of four well-known organizations, making it easy for busy donors to find everything in one place — though it is important to remember that it is dealing with a relatively small number of the over a million and a half US charities, and it is likely dealing with very few of the community-based nonprofits that operate in your hometown.
In any case, it would be a mistake to think that the review process, because aggregated, is necessarily comprehensive. None of the sites that powers Charity Checker assesses the need a charity exists to meet, the programs it has created to meet those needs, or the effectiveness of the work. None of them claims to do this either, but the whole business of awarding stars and badges and seals, and then of aggregating them, creates the illusion of comprehensiveness for a public eager for hard answers about where to give — and short on time to conduct its own research.
So what would it take to make the evaluation process really valuable, and how might it work in communities around the nation?
Stay tuned for Part III.