Learning

To ensure great ideas achieve true impact, we are constantly learning from our partners and sharing insights of our own.

Strategy, Learning & Evaluation

The Walton Family Foundation’s Strategy, Learning & Evaluation Department (SLED) engages program staff, grantees and philanthropic partners with rigorous and equitable practices that foster continuous learning. For more information, read the Walton Family Foundation’s Approach to Strategy, Learning & Evaluation and Guide to Measuring Success.

Our Core Values

Actionable We focus on providing the data, evidence, and related resources that staff need to support their reflection and learning, which in turn drives continuous improvement in the foundation’s strategies and impact.
Flexible The foundation and its grantees work in areas that are complex and highly fluid, requiring approaches that are customized to meet the needs and context of each project.
Culturally Relevant Programs that are focused on serving historically marginalized populations require research and evaluation approaches that culturally responsive and equitable.
Fair and Accurate Our projects are designed to meet the highest standards possible while recognizing that different approaches are necessary depending on the context.
Collaborative All SLED projects should be designed with input from multiple stakeholders, including foundation leadership, program staff, grantees, and external advisors as appropriate.
Transparent We strive to share the results and lessons learned from the foundation’s investments with the broader community (other funders, non-profit organizations, policymakers, influencers, and the public) so that they may gain from our experiences.
Cost-Effective We believe the level of resources utilized in our projects should be commensurate to the size and scale of the program or strategy involved, as well as the relative importance and implications of the work.

Strategic Learning

The foundation engages in Strategic Learning - the collection and use of data to inform decision-making. It makes our grantmaking more nimble – evolving to reflect what we learn and helping our partners have greater impact. For more information, read our Introduction to Strategic Learning at WFF and Guide to Strategy Micro-Shifts.

To support our strategic learning efforts, we’ve also developed a Before- and After-Action Review tool, a free resource open to all.

Performance Measures and Grant Evaluation

The Walton Family Foundation is committed to strategic philanthropy, including structured planning as well as evaluation and learning. This approach informs all our grantmaking and efforts to learn from our own work and the work of our grantees. It helps the foundation and grantees stay accountable in service of social and environmental impact.

We use performance measurement to understand, learn from and improve the foundation's strategies and the work of grantees. Grantees are responsible for draft performance measures as part of the initial proposal development process. These are reviewed by the grantee’s program officer, revised (as necessary) with the grantee and approved by the Strategy, Learning & Evaluation Department (SLED). As grants close, grantees may be invited to participate in a 60-minute reflection and learning conversation. Here's a brief explanation about what to expect: What to Expect When You're Expecting a Grant Evaluation.

We know our grantees are closest to the challenges they seek to overcome. We believe learning alongside them is the most effective way to achieve long-term progress. We encourage grant applicants to review the materials below, which explain how to compose performance measures that drive shared learning, strategic adaptation and greater impact.

Metrics Bank

This online tool helps grantees build strong performance measures by customizing over 300 model metrics. It also guides the foundation’s efforts to support more equitable grantmaking. We hope the Metrics Bank streamlines the process of developing strong performance measures.

Once grantees register with the Metrics Bank, they may start customizing a selection of model metrics to reflect the nature of their work.

For more information, read the step-by-step guide or go straight to the Metrics Bank.

Please email info@metricsbank.wffmail.com with any questions.

Grant Metric Development Guides

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Home Region Program Performance Measures Guide

Home Region Program Performance Measures Guide

April 19, 2023

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Environment Program Performance Measures Guide

Environment Program Performance Measures Guide

April 19, 2023

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Education Program Performance Measures Guide

Education Program Performance Measures Guide

April 19, 2023

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Performance Measures

Performance measures play an important role in grantmaking – to help grantees and the Walton Family Foundation understand if goals have been achieved during the grant period. In these videos, grantees will learn how to establish performance measures, which can determine the success of project and provide valuable learnings along the way.

Developing Good Performance Measures for Education Grants

Performance Measures Education video thumbnail

Developing Good Performance Measures for K-12 Education Grants

Performance measures play an important role in grantmaking – to help grantees and the Walton Family Foundation understand if goals have been achieved during the grant period. In this video, grantees will learn how to establish performance measures, which can determine the success of project and provide valuable learnings along the way.

Developing Good Performance Measures for Environment Grants

SLED performance measures video thumbnail

Developing Good Performance Measures for Environment Grants

Performance measures play an important role in grantmaking – to help grantees and the Walton Family Foundation understand if goals have been achieved during the grant period. In this video, grantees will learn how to establish performance measures, which can determine the success of project and provide valuable learnings along the way.

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