The use and management of data stands at the core of the work undertaken by the Center for Effective Philanthropy. The set of survey tools CEP has developed as well as field-wide research builds comparative data drawn from key constituent groups—grantees, donors, staff members and others—providing insights that enable funders to better define, assess and improve their effectiveness. We are posting this series to share our data more broadly and to highlight specific data points.
In this case the source is the Staff Perception Report (SPR), which explores foundation staff members’ perceptions of foundation effectiveness and job satisfaction on a comparative basis. The SPR is based on a survey specific to foundations that includes questions related to staff members’ impressions of their role in philanthropy, satisfaction with their jobs, their foundation’s impact, and opportunities for foundation improvement.
Data comes from responses to the following question:
Was your performance formally reviewed during the last 12 months? Those who answered ‘Yes,’ were then invited to agree or disagree with the following statement: Yes, I had a conversation about my recent performance with my supervisor.
Over 700 foundation staff members responded to this question. Of those, 551 individuals or 76 percent indicated that they had such a conversation, and 170 individuals or 24 percent said they had had no conversation with their supervisor about their performance.
Kevin Bolduc is vice president — assessment tools at CEP.
