LFA is designing and leading a process for GEO staff, Board-led Optimization Team, and full Board of Directors to develop a Theory of Change for this cutting edge leadership organization dedicated to organizational effectiveness among foundations and nonprofit organizations. Once developed, the GEO Theory of Change will inform an evaluation plan and baseline data collection efforts including a membership survey and foundation effectiveness case studies.

In March 2004, Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO) held its biennial National Conference, Aligning for Results. GEO contracted with LFA to conduct an evaluation of the conference to both measure achievement of the conference outcomes among conference participants, as well as to assess the effectiveness of process-related elements of the conference—such as overall design, session lengths and formats, and logistics—in supporting conference goals. LFA developed and administered a variety of surveys (session-specific surveys and an overall conference survey) to conference participants and provided GEO with a full report of findings.

LaFrance Associates will assist the board of Grantmakers for Effective Organizations to design a research project that will substantially contribute to the field’s ability to define and measure effective philanthropy. This work builds on earlier work LFA did with GEO to develop their Theory of Change.