Researchers at the Center for Youth and Communities (CYC) at Heller recently authored the Impact Evaluation Report for New Profit, a philanthropic organization committed to catalyzing the impact of social entrepreneurs who are expanding access and opportunity in America. The CYC report details the largest and most comprehensive evaluation to date of New Profit’s Build and Catalyze Portfolios and highlights the multiple strengths of their approach as well as the areas where they can go further to create lasting impact.
The study was unique in its scope, scale and rigor. Researchers conducted interviews and surveys with more than 300 participants, allowing the team to develop a 360-degree view of New Profit’s model in action. The CYC’s evaluation found that New Profit’s approach—combining capital, capacity and community—delivers support that is trusted, effective and enduring for proximate social entrepreneurs. Even years after their formal partnership ended, alumni leaders continued to report improvement in board development, leadership growth, organizational strategy and access to networks and partners.
Overall, the findings indicated that New Profit’s combination of flexible funding and strategic advising helps social entrepreneurs build resilient, high-performing organizations. The study also surfaced areas where New Profit can evolve their practices to unlock greater impact.
“Working with the New Profit team on this evaluation provided us with important insights about what helps mission-driven organizations thrive and where funders can forge the most enduring impact within organizations and ecosystems,” said Sangeeta Tyagi, PhD’93, director of CYC and the principal investigator for the report. “At CYC, we look forward to continuing to partner with funders and nonprofits to assess their strategies and maximize their impact.”
The CYC team of researchers included Tyagi, Marji Erickson Warfield, PhD’91, co-PI, Sylvia Stewart, MPP’18, Lanni Isenberg, Tammy Tai, MBA’06, and Kaytie Dowcett, MPP’15.
About the Center for Youth and Communities
The Center for Youth and Communities (CYC) at the Heller School at Brandeis University conducts research, evaluation, and capacity building projects by partnering with education, workforce, human service and policy organizations in support of improving the well-being of youth, young adults and families across the lifespan.
CYC works collaboratively with program partners, funders and policy makers in a practical knowledge and skill-development effort to generate learning and document results to both prove and improve impact and quality. Lessons learned are disseminated to build an evidence base of integrated numbers and stories.