Supporting Philanthropy, Strengthening Impact

Foundations invest millions of dollars to carry out their missions and change the world. How do they know their investments are working?

The American Institutes for Research (AIR) uses the strongest research evidence and deep experience in systems change across multiple sectors to support foundations, large and small, in fulfilling their missions.

As a foundation leader…

• Do you have a theory of change that drives your strategic plan?
• Are you monitoring your results in real time?
• Is your investment strategy delivering on your mission?
• Your Board is asking…do you have an answer?

AIR can help you measure your results.

Together, we can improve these numbers.

AIR works with foundations to tackle persistent education and workforce challenges. This work yields customized tools, processes, products, and evaluations that respond to foundations’ pressing questions and needs.

We begin by listening. We then assemble a team of experts from both the foundation and AIR who co-lead the strategic planning, formative monitoring, and summative evaluation activities. We understand that foundations’ needs will evolve. AIR builds in the flexibility to
attend to the ever-changing funding landscape.

What services and results can you expect?

Strategic Planning

• Theories of change that reflect foundation goals for diversity, equity, inclusion, or other outcomes
• Logic models that drive investment strategies
• Convenings with other foundations with similar funding priorities to learn from, inform, and complement one another’s investment strategies

Formative Monitoring

• Lessons learned from focus groups and interviews with grantees
• Monitoring systems that yield insights regarding investment strategies

Summative Evaluation

• Requests for proposals that address prioritized evaluation questions
• Short- and long-term results associated with your investments

AIR delivers these services by assembling teams with content and methodological knowledge that complements the foundation’s expertise and interests. AIR also  ensures that teams consist of staff with diverse perspectives and experiences so the work reflects an understanding of the cultures and worldviews of our partners and audiences. Some of the foundations we’ve worked with as research and content experts include:

Our work to date with most of these foundations has been in response to requests for proposals. Through our projects, however, we have learned about the foundations’ priorities.