Choosing a Strategy

Reflection on Theory of Change, From the Field

The Annie E. Casey Foundation is one of the leaders in comprehensive community change efforts around poverty. In their "Making Connections" initiative, they have taken an approach that focuses on strengthening families. In 2007, CFC was able to host two senior Foundation staff at a meeting of the Community Foundation Addressing Poverty group. Here's is some of that what they say about their strategy and their theory of change:

"In Making Connections, we believe that families matter and place matters in improving the conditions and circumstances that plague too many children, families and communities – poverty, isolation and ineffective help.

Thus we also believe that the things that help make families strong and neighbourhoods supportive matter. Those include being connected to economic opportunities such as jobs and savings, to social networks of kin and neighbours, and to quality services and supports that work for families, not against them.

Making Connections' guiding principles flow from our theory of change:

Do no harm. We try to understand local politics, cultures, and systems so we don't alter existing relationships, ongoing work and local partnerships in negative ways
Add value. We leverage the Foundation's resources, networks and staff to help local partners to explore new ideas, strategies and practice that strengthen families and communities.
Lead with ideas. Lasting change comes from good ideas. Money is necessary to support ideas, but it shouldn't lead the charge. And Foundation funding should never overshadow local investments and resources.
Take time to build local relationships and ownership. Our agenda resonates with many people, but not everyone. We ask local partners to make major, and often difficult, transitions. Thus time and care must be taken to introduce our ideas, find common ground, foster local ownership, and build strong alliances.
Break new ground. We believe in trying new ideas while building on lessons from past experiences. This applies to our own foundation structure and grant making as well as our practices in the field.
Make new mistakes. We believe taking good risks is part of the natural process of learning and innovation.
Engage multiple sectors. We do not invest in a sole strategy or lead agency at any site. Our partners include residents, local government, employers, financial institutions, large and small businesses, faith-based groups, community-based organizations, cultural clubs, hospitals, universities, schools, law enforcement officials, and grassroots community groups. This broad base increases ownership, ideas, and energy.
Cultivate local leadership. Local leadership is vital but frequently disconnected. We try to support all community leaders and help them identify and unite around a common agenda. And our theory of change informs the assumptions we've made about how Making Connections can best stimulate real long-term change. For example, we believe that:

And our theory of change informs the assumptions we've made about how Making Connections can best stimulate real long-term change. For example, we believe that:

Making Connections must leverage additional resources and partners to create and sustain long-term change in neighborhoods or in families on a large scale
Making Connections must influence systems and policies affecting families and neighborhoods
Making Connections must help develop and support a mobilized community that can propel and sustain change over the long term."