Unlike conventional evaluation approaches that can be top-down or perpetuate inequities, participatory evaluation brings stakeholders and evaluators together to collaboratively develop and implement the evaluation. In alignment with COO’s values of shared power and decision-making, a participatory approach ensures partners, governance group, and staff play an active role throughout the evaluation process.
Evaluation
We update evaluation findings yearly. Find these reports on our Evaluation page:
We are grateful for the participation of the Evaluation Advisory Group members in the guidance of our evaluation work.
Stories from COO & Partners
What do you do when a story about your community feels all wrong?
When others, detached from your struggle, reinforce messages that completely miss your dreams and reality? When your community is under attack and the truth is being flattened and replaced by disinformation? You change the narrative and we fight back!
Capacity building support is available to COO & Best Starts for Kids contracted/funded organizations - AND - support is available via the COO Learning Community for groups working in alignment with COO’s mission, vision and values who are not currently funded.
P-5 Innovation Funds aim to build up the power of community-driven Innovation to meet the emergent needs of families in King County. Apply by May 9, 2025 by 2 pm Pacific (Round 1); October 3, 2025 by 2 pm Pacific (Round 2); January 23, 2026 by 2 pm Pacific (round 3).
City of Seattle’s Office of Sustainability & Environment (OSE) is now accepting applications for the 2025 Building Decarbonization Grants. Apply by July 10.
News, stories, and recent articles from and about COO partners in community for March 2025.
For the past six months, the COO Learning Community has been exploring cooperatives, or co-ops, as an alternative and innovative economic development strategy.
A recap of the recent Black Providers Network gathering, featuring several of our funded partners.
The J.M.K. Innovation Prize seeks to identify and support bold problem-solvers leading transformative, early-stage projects in the fields of heritage conservation, the environment, and social justice. Apply by April 25.
News, stories, and recent articles from and about COO partners in community for February/March 2025.
Repairing Roots: Historic Black Towns and Spatial Reclamation explores how these communities can guide national and local efforts for reparative spatial justice and emphasizes that their preservation and prosperity should be a top priority for policymakers, philanthropic organizations, and public officials. It calls for an approach led by these communities themselves, centering their voices in shaping the path to lasting repair and renewal.
How Authoritarian Populist Politics Thrive in Contemporary Democracies — Key concepts to understand politics beyond the left-right paradigm. How can we bridge the gaps between "us" and "them" in a world divided by fear and grievance? This article explores:
- The blend of populist rhetoric and authoritarian practices
- The rise of these movements in democratic nations
- How exclusion deepens societal divides
Election cycles can be opportunities to deepen community engagement, sharpen narratives, and clarify organizational and movement values. Even after Election Day, how can we prepare ourselves as individuals and organizations to play the right roles, to respond quickly to unfolding events, and to buttress our connections and partnerships?
Divided into two parts, the Democracy Resilience Toolkit is designed to prompt discussion and action on protecting racial equity in the face of political disruption.
These national rapid-response calls are designed to support *BAMEMSA organizations + partners in strategic response/defense and strategy development.
Vision Change Win (VCW) rapid response supports all left movement organizations, leaders, and organizers dealing with or anticipating a community safety incident.
Have a question about financial planning, management, or reporting? Contact Coach Amy through the financial coaching hotline!
A toolkit from Storytellers for Change to analyze dominant narratives and develop anti-racist narrative strategies in community development.
The General Start-Up Co-op Academy takes you from “dream stage” to “shovel ready” in 10 weeks. You’ll have weekly sessions to learn about cooperative ownership, democratic management, and cooperative economics.
Interested in strengthening your storytelling, facilitation or narrative strategy skills? These self-guided courses from Storytellers for Change can support you in amplifying the impact of your narrative change and storytelling work. Support is available, while resources last, from the COO Learning Community to register in one of three programs.
Want to craft compelling narratives that drive real climate action? The DIY Narrative Research Methods guide from Climate Advocacy Lab can help!
This FAQ resource was created to accompany the more robust legal guidance document, Advancing Racial Equity: Legal Guidance for Advocates.
2025 has brought with it the mainstreaming of misleading and deceptive narratives and practices to shape opinions and influence decision-making. Prebunking, a proactive approach that equips people with the tools to recognize falsehoods and manipulation before encountering it, has proven to be an effective strategy for building people's resilience to online harms.
For many communities and nonprofits, the current landscape is confusing and alarming. In this FAQ, BMP focuses on how nonprofits could be affected by the current landscape, with an emphasis on those who serve vulnerable communities that are being targeted by many federal actions.
The $100,000 Bullitt Prize recognizes people in Washington state advancing conservation and environmental justice. Apply by May 16.
News, stories, and recent articles from and about COO partners in community for January/February 2025.
Office Hours are donation based, 30 minute appointments with an AORTA member who will offer thought partnership and one-on-one consultation; they are designed for individuals who are a part of or starting groups working towards racial, economic, and gender justice and are committed to power sharing and deep democracy.
Just Practice has compiled a short list of resources to help us connect, ground, fight and prepare for the years ahead.
Developed in partnership between Front & Centered, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and community allies, the projects funded by this grant will focus on innovative, community-led solutions aimed at reducing carbon emissions, increasing accessibility, and building lasting, equitable transportation infrastructure.
Seattle Department of Neighborhoods (DON) is currently accepting applications for the Neighborhood Matching Fund (NMF). NMF is a granting program that consists of two funds – the Community Partnership Fund (CPF) and the Small Sparks Fund (SSF) – which support grassroots projects that build stronger communities.
Seed Money Grants support the creation of new community agriculture projects and help sustain existing projects.