Archive

16 Apr

Posted at 18:46h in
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Individuals, governments, and organizations invest money--grants, loans, and equity capital--with the intention of creating a better world. Their fundamental question is, "What did we get for our money?" At the same time, the people whom these investments are intended to benefit ask, "What did we get for our money, effort, and sacrifice?" The answers may not be the same. One way to understand the diversity of answers is with social return on investment, or SROI. There are a number of competing SROI methods. Gargani + Company has developed one that highlights multiple stakeholder perspectives, distinguishes multiple forms of value, and transparently reports the quality of results. We don't use SROI merely to calculate a single number. We use it to tell complex stories. We not only use this method, we train other professionals to apply it as we do--to give voice to all, in ways that improve the decisions that affect them....

16 Apr

Posted at 18:42h in
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In many school settings, the math achievement of girls tends to be lower than that of boys, and the math achievement of African American and Hispanic children tends to be lower than that of other children. Gargani + Company worked with the Los Alamos National Laboratory, a consortium of universities, and other collaborators to understand why. The team used data-based computer simulations, called agent-based models, to investigate the factors that affect math success over time. As students move through elementary, middle, and high school, teacher quality emerged as perhaps the most important factor. How can we identify high quality teachers? Look here....

16 Apr

Posted at 18:37h in
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The International Development Research Centre of Canada, or IDRC, invests in research for development. It supports early and later-stage research on innovations that have the potential to improve the lives of people in the developing world. An innovation only benefits people if it is brought to scale. How can that best be achieved? Supported? Evaluated? Gargani + Company is working with the IDRC to answer these questions in a way that pushes the thinking of grant makers, investors, and innovators. Our collaborative project--Scaling Science--is an international effort to develop systematic approaches to transforming innovation into impact through scale. ...

16 Apr

Posted at 18:33h in
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In the US, more than one child in five lives in poverty. What would happen if the schools they attend suddenly improved? A team of caring adults offered support, advice, and safety as they grow up? Someone paid their college expenses? Would a long-term, comprehensive effort along these lines help children escape poverty? These were the questions a client posed to Gargani + Company. We studied their efforts in 20 cities to provide long-term educational and social support to young people. We helped them construct a theory of change, developed common indicators, and created an online tool for collecting and analyzing data. We didn't just unlock the potential of our client. We helped them unlock the potential of the young people they serve. ...