Aligning Evaluation and Strategy With the Mission of a Community-Focused Foundation.

Foundations are commonly recognized as having a comparative advantage in supporting forward-looking projects and programs. When a mission is focused more on improving the quality of life in a specific community than on addressing a specific social problem, evaluation of outcomes becomes more challenging. While available methods can provide valuable support to measuring the impact of a foundation's specific program, they are unlikely to provide an overview of the outcomes of a multitude of projects financed over time. This article presents the case of an Italian foundation committed to developing a tailored approach to evaluating the durable benefits of its local philanthropic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]