Publications

Examples of recent reports and publications produced by LFA consultants are provided below.

Questions at the Crossroads: Surviving the Third Decade of HIV in California. LFA prepared this report on behalf of AIDS Partnership California. May 2004. Based on a series of interviews with two dozen local experts in HIV/AIDS prevention and care, this report examines key issues shaping the future of HIV in California.

Building the Field that Builds the Future: Executive Summary of a Comprehensive Evaluation of San Francisco CARES and Wages Plus. Steven LaFrance, Sarah Barengo, Gaylon Parsons, Clare Friel, Nancy Latham, and Rachel Lanzerotti. March 2004. This study confirms the success of two programs that seek to lower turnover among and professionalize the field of childcare workers.

Grantmakers for Effective Organizations: 2003 Member Survey. Steven LaFrance and Andrew Robinson. May 2003. This summary provides baseline data on the organizational effectiveness and capacity-building efforts of members of Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO), including both grantmakers and infrastructure groups. GEO is using the survey results to help plan future programs and member services. Additionally, the results of the survey were used to populate a database that allows members to more effectively search for and find each other.

Grantmakers for Effective Organizations: Theory of Change. Steven LaFrance and Rick Green. September 2003. This paper articulates a bold vision for how GEO will respond to the need for building a system within which grantmakers can become more effective agents of change. To elevate the performance of the philanthropic sector, GEO will work to create change among its members, all grantmaking organizations, and the field of philanthropy as a whole.

Mobilize the Immigrant Vote! Evaluation of the Northern California Citizenship Project’s Capacity-Building Training Series and Campaign. Laura Lanzerotti. August 2003.
California is undergoing an enormous demographic transformation, yet a gap remains between those who live in the state and those who vote. This report documents the effectiveness of NCCP’s efforts to Mobilize the Immigrant Vote! and shares lessons learned about how to implement and evaluate programs that empower immigrant communities and engage them in the electoral process. NCCP is already applying the lessons learned through the LFA evaluation to build grassroots leadership, broader participation, and a stronger voice for the immigrant community within Northern California in the 2004 election.

Evaluation of the California Cares Media Campaign. Steven LaFrance, Sarah Barengo, and Andrew Robinson. March 2002.
California non-profits suffered a steep funding decline in the wake of September 11 at the same time that demand for safety-net services – food, shelter, mental health counseling, and crisis relief – increased dramatically due to the slowing economy. This report documents the success of California Cares, an effort led by The California Endowment (TCE), to inform Californians of the critical shortage of resources for serving the needs of California’s most vulnerable communities. LFA’s evaluation of the media campaign demonstrates its success not only in increasing awareness but also in boosting much-needed donations to California nonprofits.