The Edna McConnell Clark Foundation’s theory of change puts a premium on evaluation. Evaluating the impact of individual grantees’ programs and assessing the aggregate performance of the Foundation’s investment portfolio are essential if the Foundation is to achieve its goals of expanding programs with evidence of effectiveness and helping to create sustainable organizations.

In order to guide and strengthen its evaluation efforts, the Foundation relies heavily on its Evaluation Advisory Committee (EAC) for strategic advice, recommendations and referrals. Formed in 2001, this panel of nationally respected independent experts convenes quarterly to review the evidence and evaluations of candidates for investment as well as of grantees, and to advise the Foundation how best to assess its own performance.

EAC members are not just informal advisors. They are fully engaged in activities that include:

• Vetting and advancing research and evaluation work that is being considered or planned by current grantees;
• Vetting and advancing research on organizations in which the Foundation is considering investing;
• Acting as a sounding board and reviewer for research and evaluation work conducted or commissioned by the Foundation;
• Keeping the Foundation apprised of new research and evaluation work concerning the youth development field in general;
• Providing strategic advice to EMCF grantees by participating on their evaluation committees, contributing to workshops, or consulting directly; and
• Providing strategic advice to EMCF about the Foundation’s self-evaluation plans and findings.

The EMCF Evaluation Advisory Committee currently consists of:

1. Robert Granger (chair), President, W.T. Grant Foundation
2. Mark E. Courtney, Professor, School of Social Service Administration, University of Chicago
3. Fred Doolittle, Vice President, MDRC
4. Kristin Moore, Senior Scholar and past president, Child Trends
5. Elizabeth Reisner, Founder, Policy Studies Associates
6. Jason Snipes, Vice President, Director of Education Research, Impaq International