Grantmaker and Grantee Support  

We aid foundations and other organizations that fund healthy eating and active living public health initiatives and promote policy advocacy work to build strong metrics and processes that show investment impacts. 

This includes support for grantmakers as they prepare for funding opportunities, such as developing a robust Request for Proposal (RFP) and review process, assessing grantee readiness, as well as recommending and piloting evaluation strategies. We utilize best practices in measurement that can help grantmakers develop a shared measurement system grounded in common and aligned goals to effectively measure their ROI across grantees and initiatives. 

Working directly with grantees may include consultation to help build an evaluation framework, select appropriate measures, implement evidence-based programming, and explore promising emerging approaches. We help build capacity within grantee organizations by providing them with the tools and skills needed to measure outcomes and develop infrastructure for long-term program sustainability. 

In addition to overarching program evaluation to assess the impact of a particular initiative, we also conduct “lessons learned” implementation evaluations to inform future interventions. This includes recommendations for relevant adaptations and improvements for the evaluated intervention and other similar initiatives moving forward. Additionally, we have significant experience conducting evaluations aimed at informing grantee re-authorization decisions for grantmakers. 

Our grantmaker support services include:

  • Development of RFPs, scoring criteria, review processes, and final reporting strategies

  • Grantee readiness assessment 

  • Shared measures development and accompanying grantee training

  • Program evaluation to inform grantee re-authorization and/or program replication (lessons learned)

Recent projects include:

  • Created a healthy food access survey to support shared measures across multiple partners, as well as modified an RFP, provided assistance with grantee selection, and provided support and training to grantees on data collection, management, and analysis.

  • Worked with grantees to develop capacity for measurement and evaluation. These grantees all worked within the areas of food access and local food systems. We conducted a review of existing programs and metrics and made recommendations for each of the four organizations. In addition, we completed pilot data collection to demonstrate the impact of these existing programs.

  • Developed a new RFP, scoring criteria, and review process for an obesity prevention grant mechanism, as well as provided evaluation and technical assistance consultation to grantees, led a learning collaborative, and informed key metrics for final reporting.

  • Evaluated lessons learned, grantee organizational capacity and technical assistance, as well as how best to integrate health equity for grantees. 

  • Evaluated several programs across content areas (e.g., Latino health, healthy eating, active living) to aid in re-authorization decisions and program improvements. 

 

Scientific Strategic Planning for Organizations

Foundations and other funders that are in the process of building infrastructure, developing or improving a grant program, or strategizing focus areas, can benefit from our involvement in strategic planning. We provide evidence-based and practical, actionable steps that will increase investment effectiveness and improve community impact. We can help identify the how, what and why, and relate them to your ROI.