Comments on: Effective Education Grantmaking http://thecivicfabric.org/2008/09/30/effective-education-grantmaking/ Thoughts From the Stair Stepper Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:18:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Jeff Jaroscak http://thecivicfabric.org/2008/09/30/effective-education-grantmaking/#comment-87 Jeff Jaroscak Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:44:50 +0000 http://www.thecivicfabric.org/?p=108#comment-87 The Center for Leadership in Education is investigating the REDF (Roberts Enterprise Development Fund) methodology for measuring social return on investment (SROI). We are experimenting with different metrics that demonstrate the Center's impact. As the economy tightens, foundations are increasingly concerned with the value that is created by their awards, and rightly so. Without pointing fingers, I have found that many philanthropies bemoan the fact that schools cannot "think outside the box" while those same philanthropies continue to fund "inside the box." The SROI metric might allow non-profits to compete with one another on a level playing field. By using common metrics to measure impacts, proposals can be compared to one another in a more objective manner. The Center for Leadership in Education is investigating the REDF (Roberts Enterprise Development Fund) methodology for measuring social return on investment (SROI). We are experimenting with different metrics that demonstrate the Center’s impact.

As the economy tightens, foundations are increasingly concerned with the value that is created by their awards, and rightly so. Without pointing fingers, I have found that many philanthropies bemoan the fact that schools cannot “think outside the box” while those same philanthropies continue to fund “inside the box.”

The SROI metric might allow non-profits to compete with one another on a level playing field. By using common metrics to measure impacts, proposals can be compared to one another in a more objective manner.

]]> By: John M http://thecivicfabric.org/2008/09/30/effective-education-grantmaking/#comment-86 John M Thu, 02 Oct 2008 15:28:47 +0000 http://www.thecivicfabric.org/?p=108#comment-86 Hi John, Now to put all my feelings on education into a 'comment'! I think that you and the NFF are on a great path. Especially here in Ohio, where recent studies found the public school system to be fairly poor, finding new approaches and alternatives that do encourage / empower / and educate students is a must. As someone who believes strongly in both the power of consensus/cooperation as well as supporting local agriculture and farming I am a big fan of the Putney School ( http://www.putneyschool.org/index.php ) and would absolutely love to see such an endeavor here in rural Ohio. It's a well known fact that 'people learn best through instruction', so what could be better then a school founded on the idea that everyone (students and teachers alike) contributes, leads, works, teaches, and supports one another? -John Hi John,
Now to put all my feelings on education into a ‘comment’!
I think that you and the NFF are on a great path. Especially here in Ohio, where recent studies found the public school system to be fairly poor, finding new approaches and alternatives that do encourage / empower / and educate students is a must.
As someone who believes strongly in both the power of consensus/cooperation as well as supporting local agriculture and farming I am a big fan of the Putney School ( http://www.putneyschool.org/index.php ) and would absolutely love to see such an endeavor here in rural Ohio. It’s a well known fact that ‘people learn best through instruction’, so what could be better then a school founded on the idea that everyone (students and teachers alike) contributes, leads, works, teaches, and supports one another?

-John

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