Call for Papers: Volume 2, Issue 4

Abstracts of up to 250 words are being solicited for Volume 2, Issue 4 of The Foundation Review. This will be a thematic issue on International Grantmaking.  Papers should address issues related to grantmaking across national boundaries. What are the strategies and tactics that funders use to effectively promote sustainable change?  What are the ethical issues that arise and how do funders address them?  What makes a good international intermediary?

Submit abstract to submissions@foundationreview.org by March 1, 2010.

Abstracts are solicited in four categories:

• Results. Papers in this category generally report on findings from evaluations of foundation-funded work. Papers should include a description of the theory of change (logic model, program theory), a description of the grant-making strategy, the evaluation methodology, the results, and discussion. The discussion should focus on what has been learned both about the content (e.g., what has been learned about communications strategies, etc.) and about grantmaking and other foundation roles (convening, etc.). We especially seek papers that describe “hard lessons” – efforts that were not successful in achieving the intended outcomes in the timeframe envisioned.
• Tools Papers in this category should describe tools useful for foundation staff or boards. By “tool” we mean a systematic, replicable method intended for a specific purpose. For example, a protocol to assess community or organizational readiness and standardized facilitation methods would be considered tools. The actual tool should be included in the article where practical. The paper should describe the rationale for the tool, how it was developed, and available evidence of its usefulness.
• Sector. Papers in this category address issues that confront the philanthropic sector as whole, such as diversity, accountability, etc.
• Reflective Practice. The reflective practice articles rely on the knowledge and experience of the authors, rather than on formal evaluation methods or designs.   In these cases, it is because of their perspective about broader issues, rather than specific initiatives, that the article is valuable.

Papers should emphasize the practical applications of the findings. The reviewers will be evaluation professionals, foundation program and evaluation staff and board members, and other experts in the content area. Reviews will be double blind.

Please contact Teri Behrens, Editor of The Foundation Review, with questions:behrenst@foundationreview.org