Keerti Kanchinadam and Alex Aja - December 10, 2024

Over the years, LFA has done a lot of Theory of Change work with clients. Recently, we decided to take a different approach and put into more robust practice the equity-centered ideas and values we had been discussing for so long. The process and the outcomes of this work felt so good! So we've rounded up some of our reflections in this blog. Read the four ways we leaned into equity-centered practices in developing a Theory of Change.

Emma Ramsbottom - October 30, 2024

Are you considering embarking on a theory of change development or refresh project? Before diving in, taking the time to intentionally decide whether to focus at the organizational or programmatic level could make your process more meaningful and your work more impactful.  

Emily Boer Drake - September 26, 2024

The MacArthur Fellowship is a multi-year, no strings attached $800,000 award given to individuals each year who demonstrate exceptional creativity. Learning for Action and Public Profit partnered on the evaluation of the MacArthur Foundation’s Fellowship Award, supplemented with public polling research from the Harris Poll.

It’s been exciting for us to support MacArthur with learning about such a renowned program and we’re delighted that the findings are now publicly available and we can share the learnings with the field. You can explore the findings and read a Perspectives piece from the MacArthur Foundation on how they’re thinking about the evaluation.

Keerti Kanchinadam and Emily Boer Drake - August 20, 2024

Over more than 20 years, Learning for Action has used our skills as evaluators, strategists, and capacity-builders to support many, many funders. And yes, we’ll admit it, we’ve got a type. We are particularly drawn to funders who are attuned to how they do the work as much as what they are doing. For example, we love helping funders deepen their investments in programs as well their commitment to the leaders and organizations who drive these programs. We’re also unabashedly attracted to working with funders who are committed to advancing racial equity and use all the tools in their toolbox towards these goals.

Tomika Rodriguez - July 23, 2024

July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, an annual observance that “raises awareness about the unique challenges that affect the mental health of racial and ethnic minority and American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations.” It is alternately denoted as Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC) Mental Health Month. This post explores a landscape study conducted by Learning for Action (LFA) that may have important implications for philanthropy in addressing BIPOC college student mental health.