Learning

At Arcus, we view listening and learning as the first step toward strategic grantmaking, and when appropriate, leading. It is only by listening to stakeholders like our grantee and funder partners that we can create impact through our grantmaking and through other activities. With humility as one of the organization’s core values, we aim to periodically engage colleagues and partners in ways that help us question our assumptions, develop new insights, and adjust our approaches. By gathering and analyzing relevant data and information, and seeking input from a broad range of perspectives, we are better able to identify opportunities, understand the impact we are having, and make course corrections when the need arises. Read and download our social justice and apes reports here.

Evaluation

As a grantmaker, we have a responsibility to assess the progress and impact of the program strategies that guide our mission areas of social justice and great ape conservation. We take a disciplined look across all areas of the foundation’s work and operations, asking and answering key questions relating to overall performance, application of human and financial resources, and results of our grantmaking and other program-related efforts. We engage in evaluation to both learn about the work of our grantees and to determine whether our own strategies are helping to advance change. In addition to reviewing grant reports and conducting site visits, we track items such as value delivered to grantees beyond the grant dollars we provide, publications and research that advance knowledge in the mission areas or the sector, and attention/credibility brought to an issue as a result of Arcus’ focus.   We also assess the extent to which Arcus’ involvement helped contribute to any positive outcomes, examining instances where our efforts are working well and where they may not be achieving what we originally hoped. In the latter instance, we revise, adjust and implement course corrections.