Research, Evaluation and Learning

Solution-oriented strategies must be based on real research, not intuition. OneStar's Research, Evaluation and Learning focus area provides data on needs and trends that help nonprofits solve social challenges, develop best practices and better understand the underlying causes behind the issues they address.

Resources

Analysis of the Texas Nonprofit Infrastructure and Capacity-Building Resources

Phases I - IV September 2009 - May 2011

OneStar, with support from the Meadows Foundation, partnered with Texas A&M's Bush School of Government, lead researcher Dr. Angela Bies, Ph.D., and graduate students from the 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 Bush School Capstone Teams to conduct a three-year study of the Texas nonprofit support infrastructure.  Phases of the study included:

• A mapping and analysis of the Texas nonprofit support infrastructure,
• A statewide survey of 700 nonprofit stakeholders to assess nonprofit needs, barriers to partnership with government and operational capacity,
• An analysis and needs assessment of the former Texas Nonprofit Management Assistance Network, and
• A comparative study of the nonprofit support infrastructures of selected states.

As is the case nationally, the need in Texas for data about the sector's infrastructure and systems of support is critical. The results of this study expand OneStar's current knowledge of supportive infrastructure entities in Texas, enabling Texas nonprofit leaders to convene funders and other stakeholders regarding gaps, challenges and needed infrastructure investment to improve the overall health of the sector. This study, analysis and methodology are also the first of their kind at a state-level and represent a major contribution to the knowledge-base of the nonprofit sector nationally.      

All documents are available for download at the bottom of the page.

Helping Nonprofits Navigating Fiscal Crisis

This article was written by several Bridgespan colleagues and published in Stanford Social Innovation Review on the mounting difficulties faced by government-funded nonprofits as they work to hold up our society's safety net.  Here's a link to the article: 5 Ways to Navigate the Fiscal Crisis.

Texas Nonprofit Support Infrastructure Study

OneStar, with support from the Meadows Foundation, has partnered with Texas A&M's Bush School of Government, lead by Dr. Angela Bies, Ph.D., to conduct a mapping, network analysis and comparative study with select states of the Texas nonprofit support infrastructure. A critical need in Texas is for data about the sector's infrastructure and systems of support. The results of this study expand Texas' current knowledge of supportive infrastructure entities across the state and enable more effective recommendations and action among funders and other stakeholders regarding gaps, challenges and needed infrastructure investment to improve the overall health of the sector.

Phase One of the project was successfully completed by students from a 2009/2010 capstone research seminar in which 389 infrastructure organizations from Texas were identified and, through an analysis of public documents, categorized according to the type of infrastructure support that they provide. Phase Two of the study, completed in August 2010 in conjunction with the Renewing Our Communities Account efforts through HB 492, was a statewide survey of nonprofits to gather feedback on nonprofit perceptions of support, capacity needs and barriers to partnership with government. OneStar and the Bush School Team, including students from a 2010-2011 capstone research seminar, partnered with a host of statewide networks, associations and the Health and Human Services' Task Force for Strengthening Nonprofit Capacity to conduct the survey, which collected responses from 711 nonprofit stakeholders. In addition to assisting OneStar with this Infrastructure Study through the Bush School, the results of the survey contributed to a report with recommendations to state policy makers for the 82nd Texas Legislative session. Subsequent phases of the Texas infrastructure research include a network analysis component and statewide comparison, for which results will be available in Spring of 2011.

Both reports are available for download at the bottom of the page.

LifeWorks: From Crisis to Success in Austin

RGK Center for Philanthropy & Community Service

When their funding changed drastically, this multi-purpose human service agency had to make strategic decisions about their client services. By rigorously examining their programs' relative value in terms of resources and needs while also evaluating each program's impact, LifeWorks was able to make challenging but informed decisions that charted a path for their organization from crisis to success. Funding for development of this case was provided by the OneStar Foundation.

http://www.utexas.edu/lbj/rgk/research/casestudies/lifeworks.pdf

Reentry Partnerships: A Guide for States & Faith-Based and Community Organization

The Justice Center

The Justice Center, with funding support from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of Justice and the Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, U.S. Department of Labor, developed a guide that offers practical recommendations for how state government officials and community-based service providers can better use limited resources to help people released from prisons and jails successfully and safely rejoin neighborhoods and families. To download this document, please click on the link below.

http://www.reentrypolicy.org/content_pages/reentry_partnerships_pubs_tools

Role of State Faith Community Liaisons in Charitable Choice Implementation

Mathematica Policy Research

OneStar takes an innovative approach to addressing the myriad challenges faced by the social sector in Texas. Now, OneStar's inclusive, cross-functional strategies are highlighted in the Mathematica Policy Research Inc.'s national report on Charitable Choice implementation.

More information about this report, and Texas' place within it, can be found here.

The full report can be found here. The report's section on Texas can be found here.

The Social and Economic Value of Private and Community Foundations

Robert Shapiro and Aparna Mathur

Shapiro and Mathur published a groundbeaking report that proposes measuring the impact of the nonprofit sector through social and economic outcomes. The report details the return on investment of nonprofit activities, with a representative sample of over 1,263 U.S. private and community foundations in 10 different categories.

The full report can be found here. OneStar's analysis of this report can be downloaded below.

Building A Performance Measurement System

Root Cause

With a performance management system, organizations can measure their social impact while also providing important data to funders. This essential guide lets nonprofit organizations develop their own performance measurement systems through a clear, cohesive, five-step process. A complimentary PDF copy of this manual can be downloaded through Root Cause's Web site.

The full report can be found here.

Evaluation in Philanthropy: Perspectives from the Field

Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO) and Council on Foundations

This new publication from GEO and Council on Foundations explores innovative approaches to evaluation using organizational learning practices. Featuring a review of literature and specific examples of grantmakers that have employed these practices in their evaluation efforts to increase their organizational learning and performance, this complimentary document can help grantmakers, grantees - and even local governments and communities -strengthen their capacity, and the impact of their efforts. Note: This article is available to GEO members. For information about membership, click here.

The full report can be found here.

The Nonprofit Cost Toolkit

The Bridgespan Group

This toolkit is a tool that helps organizations to analyze and understand the “true costs” or “fully-loaded costs” of service provision, program operation, and/or organizational operation.  A great tool for senior leadership of small to medium-sized nonprofits that provides a step-by-step guide to performing a true cost analysis. 

http://www.bridgespan.org/nonprofit-cost-analysis-toolkit-introduction.aspx

Effective Organizations Achieve Superior Results

The Bridgespan Group

A series of resources related to understanding and evaluating organizational effectiveness, including an audio presentation by Bridgespan Partner Kirk Kramer on the creation of, and barriers to increased organizational effectiveness.

http://www.bridgespan.org/LearningCenter/Default.aspx?id=392&taxid=236