I2I’s Heart-2-Heart on PB&J (Eval & Comms), June Birthdays, and Social Bond Evaluation
Hey there,
Welcome to Intention 2 Impact (I2I’s) Heart 2 Heart (H2H) newsletter - where we share what’s on our minds, in our hearts, and up-our-sleeves. This is an archived newsletter from June 2023. Want to read the newsletter in real time? Click here to subscribe!
On Our Minds
Avocado & toast 🥑
Rocket & Groot 🌱
Tacos & Tuesdays 🌮
Some things are just better together. That’s how we feel about Evaluation & Communications. It’s no secret that I2I takes pride and joy in our strategic communications. You wouldn’t be here right now if we didn’t (and we are so happy you're here)!
Evaluation without effective communication is a sure-fire way for reports to collect dust on a shelf. If you’ve ever worked with us, you know how much care and attention we put into making every product as concise, compelling, and aesthetically delightful as possible.
And lately, we’re seeing the intersection of Eval & Comms from a new angle. In the pursuit of social impact, it is critical to measure and evaluate communication strategies.
Over the past two years, we’ve designed and implemented MERL activities to collect, analyze, and learn from communications data - including social media metrics, PR/media mentions, and audience perception, to name a few.
We’ve noticed that within philanthropic foundations, communications and program teams tend to stay on their own floors (metaphorically, of course… #teamvirtual4lyfe). Evaluators historically work with program teams to measure impact & facilitate learning.
However, these days, we are spending considerable time getting to know comms teams. And lemme tell ya… they’ve got a gold mine of data over there! 📊
After all, a foundation’s impact is not just through its grantmaking or programs. They also play major roles in narrative change, thought leadership, and influencing the field of philanthropy. How does that happen? 📣Communication! How do we measure what’s working? 📣Evaluation!
Move over M&E, C is making its move. 💘
At I2I, we are obsessed with using data to knock down silos and facilitate cross-team learning in foundations. Hit reply if you’d like to learn what we’re learning (meta, we know) about evaluating communication strategies.
In Our Hearts
The month of June is the solar return of two I2I powerhouses! 🎂🎂
Nina Sabarre, our fearless leader, passionate visionary, and resident dance-party starter is completing another lap around the sun on June 27th. What we wouldn’t give to see Nina still bouncing around in a Barney jumpsuit! So presh!
Today (June 21st) we are celebrating the birthday of Sahiti Bhaskara, the latest I2I team member. Sahiti is a dentist turned public health whiz & evaluator extraordinaire. We are so stoked to have her in our ranks!
I2I is nothing without the head, heart, & hands of these women! Hit reply to send them a birthday wish.
We also want to acknowledge the real independence day in the US, Juneteenth, which we observed this past Monday to honor the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. ✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿 To celebrate, we encourage you to support small Black-owned businesses in your community. Check out this directory compiled by Color of Change.
The I2I team also proudly stands alongside our LGBTQIA+ brothers and sisters, this month and every month. Learn how to be an ally during Pride. 🏳️🌈
Up Our Sleeves
CLIENT SPOTLIGHT 🔦 The California Endowment 🔦
I2I has spent the past year partnering with The California Endowment (TCE), planning a learning and evaluation (L&E) effort to explore the added value of a $300 million Social Bond that TCE issued in 2021.
The use of this innovative social finance approach was in response to the trifecta of racial injustice, political divisiveness, and the COVID-19 pandemic — and is intended to support power building, health systems, and climate resiliency in California. The TCE Social Bond constitutes the largest philanthropic investment in infrastructure for transformational systems change in California history.
As they say, “with great investments, come great L&E efforts”.
Alongside the phenomenal Jane Reisman and John Sherman, I2I has had the joy to co-create this emergent learning & evaluation plan with the talented TCE staff, including Hanh Cao Yu, Janine Saunders, and Elaine Lander (all pictured below in June 2023 at the Emergent Learning Summit in Denver).
Keep your eyes peeled for more updates on this work in upcoming I2I monthly newsletters. Can’t wait until then to learn more? Hit reply!
Onward and upward, y’all!
You know, heart-2-hearts are supposed to be a 2-way street…
So comment below, what’s on your mind, in your heart, and up your sleeve? Hopefully a lil’ bit of good trouble. 😉
Subscribe to the newsletter here!
Until next time,
Intention 2 Impact
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