query: evaluating grassroots organizing

[Discussion list for COMM-ORG]

[ed: please feel welcomed to copy COMM-ORG with replies to Dan's query.]

From: Dan Weinles <DWeinles at gpuac.org>


Hi All,



I am trying to develop a research agenda that seeks to examine 
challenges to grass roots programming / organizations related to the 
growing level of accountability-based funding requirements they are 
facing. Specifically, I would like to detail the barriers that grass 
roots initiatives must overcome in order to gain capacity to effectively 
measure and evaluate the quality and the effects of what they do. The 
end goal would be to develop a set of concrete recommendations to assist 
grass roots organizations in developing evaluative capacity. I am new to 
this area of study and am not familiar with existing research. I was 
hoping that someone out there in the field might be able to direct me to 
any seminal work that has already been done or to the key search words 
or phrases that would be most effective for findings such a body of 
research. Randy Stoecker has already given me some food for thought, 
which I will pursue. I’d like to hear from as many people as have 
knowledge and experience in this area.



Thanks in advance for your guidance.





Dan Weinles, PhD

Senior Research Associate

Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition

1207 Chestnut St., #622

Philadelphia, PA 19107

Office (215) 851-1986