In June, our PEAK Northeast chapter in collaboration with Philanthropy New York hosted a panel discussion that took a hard look at the inequities embedded in collecting demographic data. For funders, the responsible stewardship of money has meant creative evaluative processes that pose extensive lists of questions to grantees, all in the interest of creating an objective, rigorous, and standardized portrait of each applicant. But this pursuit of objectivity means trying to make the complexities of people neatly fit into generalized frameworks.

Not only is that not realistic, it perpetuates norms that deserve to be challenged.

The Equitable Evaluation Initiative (EEI), whose mission is to build a sustainable field of leaders who are reimagining the purpose and practice of evaluation to advance equity and expand notions of objectivity, validity, rigor and embrace complexity. Through their Equitable Evaluation Framework™ , they seek to challenge current evaluation paradigm, calling for a  shift in mindsets and practices to evolve, noting that “everyday narratives that marginalize, minimize and disrespect people of color and those with less privilege should be replaced with ones that understand the systemic and structural barriers that limit possibilities and the ability to thrive.”

o explore how funders can navigate the tension between grantee and funder needs in demographic data collection and the challenges foundations have in equalizing the power dynamics in this evaluative process, EEI Director Jara Dean-Coffey and Rella Kaplowitz, who is Senior Program Officer, Evaluations and Learning at the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, offered their insights.

Read the full article about equitable data collection by Jesse Rhodes at PEAK Grantmaking.