1

SIF National Assessment Survey (4/23/14)

Background

1. How did your organization learn about SIF? (Please mark all that apply)

[] From CNCS presentations at conferences

[] From CNCS communications (e.g., email blasts, webinars, information on the CNCS website) 

[] From GEO 

[] From America Achieves

[] From another organization (which organization): ______________________________________

[] From reading the Federal Register

[] From colleagues

[] From social media

[] Other (please describe): _________________________________________________________________
2

2. Why did your organization apply for SIF Funding? (Please mark all that apply)

[] To scale the delivery of an intervention your organization was already supporting, by serving more of the original population

[] To scale the applicability of an intervention your organization was already supporting, by testing the intervention’s effectiveness

for additional populations or geographic areas

[] To implement an intervention that your organization had not previously supported

[] To engage in evidence-based grantmaking

[] To build your organization’s capacity

[] To test innovative ideas

[] To increase the impact of investments your organization was already making in communities of interest to you

[] Other reasons (please describe):___________________________

3. Does your organization currently have any other portfolios of grants that are similar to SIF in any of the following ways? 

(Please mark all that apply)

[] Provide funding to a group of nonprofits to carry out community-based interventions in a particular focus area or geography

[] Support interventions in the areas of youth development (including early childhood development), economic opportunity and/or 

community health or healthy futures

[] Fund grantees in the portfolio at a level of $100,000 or more per year 

[] Have a total portfolio size of $1,000,000 or more per year 

[] Require applicants to provide at least preliminary evidence of effectiveness to obtain funding

[] Require grantees to conduct rigorous evaluations of their intervention that will build on their initial level of evidence
3

[] All of the above

3A. If your organization currently has 1 or more portfolios in addition to SIF that have all the above characteristics: 

How many of your organization’s other grant portfolios have all of these characteristics (write number):_________

Grant Making Organization Capacity Development

To learn how grantmaking organizations change and over what time period change occurs, we are asking you to rate how effective your 

organization is in each of several areas, year by year.

Please rate your organization’s capacity to do each of the following –

 Rate your organization’s capacity in each area (row) on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 means “have no capacity to do this”, 

and 10 means “have all the capacity needed to do this” 

 For each area (row), rate your organization’s capacity in each year (column)

 If there has been change in this period, please indicate how much of the change has been a result of your organization’s 

participation in SIF

4. Rate your organization’s capacity to identify and select nonprofits to fund to implement interventions in their 

communities:

Rate your organization’s capacity 

in each of these areas:

In each of the following years If there has been change in your organization’s 

capacity over this period, how much of the change 

has been a result of your participation in SIF?

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 None A little Some A 

substantial

amount

N/A (no 

change in 

capacity)

1...10 1....10 1....10 1....10 1....10 1...10

A. Develop and issue an RFP or 

similar solicitation for 

applicant organizations to 

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
4

Rate your organization’s capacity 

in each of these areas:

In each of the following years If there has been change in your organization’s 

capacity over this period, how much of the change 

has been a result of your participation in SIF?

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 None A little Some A 

substantial

amount

N/A (no 

change in 

capacity)

1...10 1....10 1....10 1....10 1....10 1...10

respond to

B. Conduct outreach to attract a 

strong pool of applicants ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

C. Implement a rigorous, 

transparent process for 

reviewing applications and 

making selection decisions

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

D. Assess level of evidence for 

applicants’ proposed 

interventions 

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

E. Assess applicants’ capacity to 

implement proposed 

interventions

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

F. Assess applicants’ capacity to 

conduct rigorous evaluations 

of their interventions

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

G. Assess applicants’ capacity to 

scale up proposed 

interventions 

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
5

Rate your organization’s capacity 

in each of these areas:

In each of the following years If there has been change in your organization’s 

capacity over this period, how much of the change 

has been a result of your participation in SIF?

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 None A little Some A 

substantial

amount

N/A (no 

change in 

capacity)

1...10 1....10 1....10 1....10 1....10 1...10

H. Assess applicants’ capacity to 

meet federal government 

compliance requirements 

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

In identifying and selecting nonprofits to fund:

5. In areas where your organization’s participation in SIF contributed to a change in capacity, please describe how SIF 

contributed.

6. In addition to SIF, what other factors contributed to a change in capacity? How did they contribute?

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
6

7. Rate your organization’s capacity to support grantees to implement and evaluate interventions:

Rate your organization’s capacity 

in each of these areas:

In each of the following years If there has been change in your organization’s 

capacity over this period, how much of the change has 

been a result of your participation in SIF?

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 None A little Some A 

substantial

amount

N/A (no 

change in 

capacity)

1...10 1....10 1....10 1....10 1....10 1...10

A. Ensure grantees comply with 

reporting and other federal 

program requirements

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

B. Provide technical assistance to 

grantees to implement the 

intervention successfully

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

C. Provide technical assistance to 

grantees to conduct rigorous 

evaluations of their 

interventions

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

D. Provide technical assistance to 

grantees on using evaluation 

findings for program 

improvement and other 

purposes

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

E. Provide technical assistance to 

grantees on fundraising ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
7

Rate your organization’s capacity 

in each of these areas:

In each of the following years If there has been change in your organization’s 

capacity over this period, how much of the change has 

been a result of your participation in SIF?

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 None A little Some A 

substantial

amount

N/A (no 

change in 

capacity)

1...10 1....10 1....10 1....10 1....10 1...10

F. Provide technical assistance to 

grantees on scaling their 

interventions

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

G. Provide technical assistance to 

grantees on communications 

and dissemination strategies

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

In supporting grantees:

8. In areas where your organization’s participation in SIF contributed to a change in capacity, please describe how SIF 

contributed.

9. In addition to SIF, what other factors contributed to a change in capacity? How did they contribute?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10. Rate your organization’s capacity to build the evidence base for interventions:
8

Rate your organization’s capacity 

in each of these areas:

In each of the following years If there has been change in your organization’s 

capacity over this period, how much of the change 

has been a result of your participation in SIF?

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 None A 

little

Some A 

substantial

amount

N/A (no 

change in 

capacity)

1...10 1....10 1....10 1....10 1....10 1...10

A. Design and implement 

rigorous evaluations of your 

organization’s activities in 

funding and supporting 

community nonprofits 

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

B. Design and implement 

rigorous evaluations of your 

grantees’ interventions

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

C. Partner with external 

evaluators to conduct rigorous 

evaluations of your 

organization’s activities

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

D. Partner with external 

evaluators to conduct rigorous 

evaluations of your grantees’ 

interventions

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

E. Use evaluation findings for 

program improvement ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

F. Use evaluation findings to 

inform grantmaking decisions ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

G. Use evaluation findings to 

support scaling of models that ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
9

Rate your organization’s capacity 

in each of these areas:

In each of the following years If there has been change in your organization’s 

capacity over this period, how much of the change 

has been a result of your participation in SIF?

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 None A 

little

Some A 

substantial

amount

N/A (no 

change in 

capacity)

1...10 1....10 1....10 1....10 1....10 1...10

show evidence of effectiveness

H. Use evaluation findings to 

demonstrate and communicate 

success of an intervention

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

In building the evidence base for interventions:

11. In areas where your organization’s participation in SIF contributed to a change in capacity, please describe how SIF 

contributed.

12. In addition to SIF, what other factors contributed to a change in capacity? How did they contribute?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________
10

13. Rate your organization’s capacity to carry out other aspects of your work:

Rate your organization’s capacity 

in each of these areas:

In each of the following years If there has been change in your organization’s 

capacity over this period, how much of the change 

has been a result of your participation in SIF?

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 None A 

little

Some A 

substantial

amount

N/A (no 

change in 

capacity)

1...10 1....10 1....10 1....10 1....10 1...10

A. Raise funds to support your 

grant programs ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

B. Work collaboratively with cofunders to address community 

needs

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

C. Foster communication and 

joint problem solving among 

your grantees

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

D. Develop and use data systems 

to manage grant programs ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

E. Develop and use data systems 

to manage performance and

evaluation data

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

In these other areas:

14. In areas where your organization’s participation in SIF contributed to a change in capacity, please describe how SIF 

contributed.
11

15. In addition to SIF, what other factors contributed to a change in capacity? How did they contribute?

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

16. The preceding questions asked about change in your organization’s capacity in different areas in the period since 2009. 

This question asks about technical assistance or similar support (e.g., coaching, facilitation, tools) your organization may 

have received from different sources to help you increase capacity or make changes. (Do not include sources that provided 

only financial assistance and no other kinds of assistance.)

In carrying out their SIF work, intermediaries may receive assistance from a variety of sources. This question asks 

how much assistance your organization has received from different sources on carrying out your SIF responsibilities. 

Have not 

received 

any 

assistance 

from this 

source

Have 

received a 

little 

assistance 

from this 

source

Have received 

some assistance 

from this 

source

Have received a 

substantial amount of 

assistance from this 

source

N/A –

Assistance not 

needed

A. SIF program staff ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

B. CNCS Research and 

Evaluation Staff ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

C. CNCS evaluation 

contractor ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
12

Have not 

received 

any 

assistance 

from this 

source

Have 

received a 

little 

assistance 

from this 

source

Have received 

some assistance 

from this 

source

Have received a 

substantial amount of 

assistance from this 

source

N/A –

Assistance not 

needed

D. Resources posted on 

Knowledge Network 

Website (e.g., trainings, 

toolkits)

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

E. Other departments in 

your organization (e.g., 

finance department)

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

F. Other SIF 

intermediaries ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

G. SIF convenings ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

H. Other conferences or 

convenings (sponsored by 

other organizations in the 

field) (Describe:__)

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

I. Co-funders/other 

philanthropies ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

J. Other (describe: ___) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
13

Development of Capacity among Your Organization’s SIF Grantees

This section asks about the capacity of grantees your organization has funded under SIF to carry out different functions --

at the time their SIF funding started and their capacity now, and 

about the extent to which the change in capacity is attributable to their participation in SIF. 

In responding to these questions, please think about your SIF grantees overall or on average. If some have experienced 

particularly great increases in capacity, you are welcome to talk about these in response to questions about examples of 

change.

17. Overall, how would you rate your SIF grantees' capacity to do the following, at the time their SIF funding started and 

now? For areas where your SIF grantees’ capacity has increased, how much of that change is the result of their participation 

in SIF?

Your SIF Grantees’ Capacity at the Time their 

SIF Funding Started Your SIF Grantees’ Capacity Now

How much of the change in your grantees’

capacity has been a result of their participation 

in SIF?

Very 

Weak Weak Moderate Strong Very Strong

Very 

Weak Weak Moderate Strong Very Strong None A little Some 

A 

substantial 

amount

N/A (No 

Change)

A. 

Implement 

the 

interventions 

they are 

carrying out 

in their 

communities

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
14

Your SIF Grantees’ Capacity at the Time their 

SIF Funding Started Your SIF Grantees’ Capacity Now

How much of the change in your grantees’

capacity has been a result of their participation 

in SIF?

Very 

Weak Weak Moderate Strong Very Strong

Very 

Weak Weak Moderate Strong Very Strong None A little Some 

A 

substantial 

amount

N/A (No 

Change)

B. Design 

and conduct 

rigorous 

evaluations 

of their 

interventions

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

C. Make use 

of evaluation 

findings for 

program 

improvement

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

D. Raise 

matching 

funds for the 

intervention

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

E. Meet 

federal 

compliance 

requirements

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

F. Scale up 

the 

intervention 

(e.g., 

increase 

impact 

within 

community, 

or expand to 

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
15

Your SIF Grantees’ Capacity at the Time their 

SIF Funding Started Your SIF Grantees’ Capacity Now

How much of the change in your grantees’

capacity has been a result of their participation 

in SIF?

Very 

Weak Weak Moderate Strong Very Strong

Very 

Weak Weak Moderate Strong Very Strong None A little Some 

A 

substantial 

amount

N/A (No 

Change)

other 

communities)

G. Develop 

their own 

logic model 

or theory of 

change

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

H. Share 

knowledge 

and best 

practices

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

18. Please provide examples of increased grantee capacity in these areas. 

19. For these areas, please provide examples of how SIF has contributed to the changes.
16

20. Where there has been increased grantee capacity, what other factors other than SIF have contributed to the increase?

21. What approaches have been most effective in increasing SIF grantee capacity? Please provide examples of these 

approaches and describe how they have made a difference.

22. What have been some of the greatest challenges you have experienced in increasing SIF grantee capacity, and what has 

been most effective in addressing these challenges?

Grantmaking Organizations’ Support for SIF and Other Grantees
17

One of the issues the SIF National Assessment seeks to address is the extent to which SIF intermediaries use similar 

approaches to support their grantees in programs other than SIF, and whether their SIF participation has contributed to change

in support for other grantees. This question asks you to report:

 The kinds and extent of support your organization has provided to your SIF grantees

 The extent to which you provide the same kinds of support to other grantees now

 The extent to which you provided the same kinds of support to grantees prior to your participation in SIF

If there has been change in the support you provide for other grantees since you began participation in SIF, how much of 

the change is the result of SIF?

23. To what extent has your organization done the following to support your grantees? For areas where your organization has 

changed the support it provides other grantees, how much of the change has been a result of your organization’s

participation in SIF? 

Types of 

Support 

Grantees prior to your participation in 

SIF 

SIF Grantees Now Other Grantees Now How Much of the Change in Support for 

Other Grantees Has Been a Result of Your 

Organization’s Participation in SIF?

Not 

at 

all

Very 

Little

Somewha

t

To a 

great 

exten

t

N/

A

No

t at 

all

Very 

Little

Somewha

t

To a 

great 

exten

t

N/

A

Not 

at 

all

Very 

Little

Somewha

t

To a 

great 

exten

t

N/

A

None A 

Littl

e

Some A 

Substantia

l Amount

NA

A. Provide 

financial 

assistance to 

carry out an 

evaluation or 

hire an external 

evaluator

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
18

Types of 

Support 

Grantees prior to your participation in 

SIF 

SIF Grantees Now Other Grantees Now How Much of the Change in Support for 

Other Grantees Has Been a Result of Your 

Organization’s Participation in SIF?

Not 

at 

all

Very 

Little

Somewha

t

To a 

great 

exten

t

N/

A

No

t at 

all

Very 

Little

Somewha

t

To a 

great 

exten

t

N/

A

Not 

at 

all

Very 

Little

Somewha

t

To a 

great 

exten

t

N/

A

None A 

Littl

e

Some A 

Substantia

l Amount

NA

B. Provide 

advice,

guidance, or 

other types of 

support on 

fundraising

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

C. Provide 

advice, 

guidance, or 

other types of 

support on 

conducting 

evaluations

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

D. Design and 

conduct 

evaluations for 

grantees

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

E. Provide 

advice,

guidance, or 

other types of 

support on how 

to scale up 

interventions

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

F. Provide 

advice,

guidance, or 

other types of 

support on 

communication

s strategies

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

G. Provide 

advice,

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
19

Types of 

Support 

Grantees prior to your participation in 

SIF 

SIF Grantees Now Other Grantees Now How Much of the Change in Support for 

Other Grantees Has Been a Result of Your 

Organization’s Participation in SIF?

Not 

at 

all

Very 

Little

Somewha

t

To a 

great 

exten

t

N/

A

No

t at 

all

Very 

Little

Somewha

t

To a 

great 

exten

t

N/

A

Not 

at 

all

Very 

Little

Somewha

t

To a 

great 

exten

t

N/

A

None A 

Littl

e

Some A 

Substantia

l Amount

NA

guidance, or 

other types of 

support on 

strategic 

planning

H. Bring 

grantees 

together 

(either in 

person or 

virtually) to 

provide 

training, share 

learnings, or 

foster peer 

exchange and 

support

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

I. Provide tools 

and models for 

grantees to use

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

24. For areas where your organization has changed the support it provides for other grantees, how has the SIF experience 

contributed to that change?

25. What have been the major challenges your organization has had in applying SIF principles in other grant portfolios? What 

have you found to be effective in addressing these challenges?
20

Grantmaking Approaches for SIF and Other Grant Programs

The following questions ask about changes in your organization’s grantmaking for other grant programs during the period you have 

participated in SIF, and whether change in grantmaking practices is a result of your SIF participation.

26. In making funding decisions, how important was each of the following before your organization received SIF funding and

now? If there has been a change, how much of the change has been the result of your organization’s participation in SIF?

Before Your Organization Received SIF 

Funding Now How much of the change has been a result of your organization’s participation in SIF?

Not at 

All 

Importa

nt

Somew

hat 

Import

ant

Impor

tant

Very 

Important

Not at 

all 

Impor

tant

Some

what 

Impor

tant

Importa

nt

Very 

Impor

tant

None A little Some A 

substantial 

amount

N/A (no 

change)

A. A grant 

applicant's logic 

model (or theoryof-change or 

similar document)

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
21

Before Your Organization Received SIF 

Funding Now How much of the change has been a result of your organization’s participation in SIF?

Not at 

All 

Importa

nt

Somew

hat 

Import

ant

Impor

tant

Very 

Important

Not at 

all 

Impor

tant

Some

what 

Impor

tant

Importa

nt

Very 

Impor

tant

None A little Some A 

substantial 

amount

N/A (no 

change)

B. Prior research 

regarding 

applicant’s 

proposed 

intervention or 

theory of change

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

C. Innovative 

approach to 

solving a 

community 

problem

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

D. Strength of 

applicant’s 

evaluation plan

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

E. Findings of 

internal 

evaluations of 

similar 

interventions

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

F. Findings of 

external 

evaluations of 

similar 

interventions

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
22

Before Your Organization Received SIF 

Funding Now How much of the change has been a result of your organization’s participation in SIF?

Not at 

All 

Importa

nt

Somew

hat 

Import

ant

Impor

tant

Very 

Important

Not at 

all 

Impor

tant

Some

what 

Impor

tant

Importa

nt

Very 

Impor

tant

None A little Some A 

substantial 

amount

N/A (no 

change)

G. Findings of 

internal 

evaluations of the 

applicant’s 

previous work

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

H. Findings of 

external 

evaluations of the 

applicant’s 

previous work

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

I. Prospects for 

scaling ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

27. How important are the following for your organization’s decisions to scale up programs or strategies – before you entered SIF 

and now. If there has been a change, how much of the change has been a result of your participation in SIF?

Before Your Organization Received 

SIF Funding Now How much of the change has been a result of your organization’s participation in SIF?
23

Not at 

All 

Import

ant

Some

what 

Impor

tant

Impo

rtant

Very 

Impo

rtant

Not at all 

Importan

t

Some

what 

Impo

rtant

Importa

nt

Very 

Impo

rtant

None A little Some A 

substanti

al amount

N/A (no 

change)

A. The 

intervention’s 

evidence base 

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

B. The grantee’s 

track record in 

implementing 

the intervention

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

C. Grantee’s 

infrastructure 

and capacity to 

expand their 

operations and 

serve more 

participants 

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

D. Level of 

support for the 

intervention in a 

new community 

or population

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
24

Change in Intermediary Organizations 

28. How have these aspects of your organization's infrastructure and systems changed since you started participating as a SIF 

intermediary?

How have these changed since you started participating as a SIF 

intermediary If there has been change, how much of the change has 

been a result of participation in SIF?

Has 

decreased 

substantiall

y 

Has 

Decrease

d

Somewha

t 

Has not 

Change

d

Has 

Increased 

Somewhat

Has Increased 

Substantially

Non

e

A little Some

A 

substantia

l amount

N/A (no 

change)

A. Overall 

evaluation 

budget, as a 

percentage

of annual 

program 

budget

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

B. Staffing 

for 

evaluation

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
25

How have these changed since you started participating as a SIF 

intermediary If there has been change, how much of the change has 

been a result of participation in SIF?

Has 

decreased 

substantiall

y 

Has 

Decrease

d

Somewha

t 

Has not 

Change

d

Has 

Increased 

Somewhat

Has Increased 

Substantially

Non

e

A little Some

A 

substantia

l amount

N/A (no 

change)

C. Staffing 

for support 

and 

monitoring 

of grantees

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

D. Data 

systems for 

monitoring 

and 

managing 

grantees

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

E. Data 

systems, 

tools, and 

processes for 

evaluation

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

F. Creation 

of a space 

and venue to 

discuss 

evaluation 

findings and 

their use in 

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
26

How have these changed since you started participating as a SIF 

intermediary If there has been change, how much of the change has 

been a result of participation in SIF?

Has 

decreased 

substantiall

y 

Has 

Decrease

d

Somewha

t 

Has not 

Change

d

Has 

Increased 

Somewhat

Has Increased 

Substantially

Non

e

A little Some

A 

substantia

l amount

N/A (no 

change)

decision 

making

29. Looking at your organization's budget and staffing, please provide the following:

Before you started

SIF participation Now

A. Total evaluation budget (in $)

B. Evaluation budget as % of the 

total organization budget

C. Number of staff FTEs with 

primary responsibility for 

evaluation
27

D. Number of staff FTEs with 

primary responsibility for grantee 

support

30. Who is primarily responsible for conducting evaluations for the following areas of your organization’s activities? (Please 

mark all that apply)

Evaluations of: Evaluation 

office/group 

within your 

organization

Your 

organization’s 

external 

evaluation partner

Program staff 

within your 

organization

The grantee 

organizations 

The grantee 

organization’s 

external 

evaluation 

partners

Other 

(specify)

A. Your SIF 

grantees’ 

interventions

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

B. Your 

organizations work 

as a SIF 

intermediary

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

C. Your 

organization’s full 

SIF portfolio

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

D. Your 

organization’s 

other grant 

portfolios

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

E. Your 

organization’s 

support of those 

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
28

Evaluations of: Evaluation 

office/group 

within your 

organization

Your 

organization’s 

external 

evaluation partner

Program staff 

within your 

organization

The grantee 

organizations 

The grantee 

organization’s 

external 

evaluation 

partners

Other 

(specify)

other grant 

portfolios

31. For areas where there has been change in infrastructure or systems, how has the SIF experience contributed to the change?

32. What other factors have contributed to the change? How have they contributed?

33. If there have been changes in your organization’s policies and procedures resulting from SIF participation, please describe 

the change and the role of SIF in the change (For example: changes in policies and procedures relating to how grant

competitions are conducted, or requirements for grantees to conduct rigorous evaluations of their interventions.)

34. How would you rate your organization’s leadership support and organization-wide support for the following, before your SIF 

participation started, and now? Rate support on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 means “no support for” and 10 means

“complete support for”
29

Leadership 

Support For:

Organizationwide support: How much of the change in leadership support 

has been a result of participation in SIF?

How much of the change in organization-wide 

support has been a result of organization’s 

Before participation in SIF?

SIF Now Before SIF Now

1-10 1-10 1-10 1-10 None A 

little

Some

A 

substantial 

amount

N/A (no 

change 

in 

support)

None A 

little

Some

A 

substantial 

amount

N/A (no 

change 

in 

support)

A. Open, 

competitive 

grantmaking

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

B. Requiring 

grantees to 

provide 

evidence of 

effectiveness 

for their 

interventions 

at the time 

they apply

for funding

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

C. Requiring 

grantees to 

implement a 

rigorous 

evaluation of 

their 

interventions

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

D. Scaling 

interventions ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
30

Leadership 

Support For:

Organizationwide support: How much of the change in leadership support 

has been a result of participation in SIF?

How much of the change in organization-wide 

support has been a result of organization’s 

Before participation in SIF?

SIF Now Before SIF Now

1-10 1-10 1-10 1-10 None A 

little

Some

A 

substantial 

amount

N/A (no 

change 

in 

support)

None A 

little

Some

A 

substantial 

amount

N/A (no 

change 

in 

support)

– increasing 

impact 

within the 

community 

or in 

additional 

communities 

or groups

E. 

Leveraging 

publicprivate 

funding 

through cofunding or 

matching 

funds

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

F. Capturing 

and sharing 

learnings 

and best 

practices

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
31

Leadership 

Support For:

Organizationwide support: How much of the change in leadership support 

has been a result of participation in SIF?

How much of the change in organization-wide 

support has been a result of organization’s 

Before participation in SIF?

SIF Now Before SIF Now

1-10 1-10 1-10 1-10 None A 

little

Some

A 

substantial 

amount

N/A (no 

change 

in 

support)

None A 

little

Some

A 

substantial 

amount

N/A (no 

change 

in 

support)

G. Using 

evaluation 

findings for 

program 

improvement

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

35. For areas where leadership or organization-wide support has changed:

 How has participation in SIF contributed to change? 

36. For areas where leadership or organization-wide support has changed:

 What other factors have contributed to change? How have they contributed?
32

Other funding for programs

This section asks about the funding your organization has received from Federal Government agencies and other sources, 

either before you applied for SIF, or since you received SIF funding.

37. Since you started participating in SIF, has your organization co-funded additional initiatives with the partners who contributed 

to the match for SIF?

[ ] Yes

[ ] No

[ ] Don’t know

38. If yes – are these partners you had co-funded with before SIF?

[ ] Yes

[ ] No

[ ] Don’t know
33

39. Has your organization applied for or received federal funding (other than your SIF grant) in the three year period before you 

applied for SIF, and in the period since you started participating in SIF? 

In the three year period before 

you applied for SIF 

Since you started participating in SIF

We applied for funding 

from We received funding from We applied for funding from We received funding from

Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No

Corporation 

for National 

and 

Community

Service 

(CNCS) 

(Other than 

SIF funding)

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

Centers for 

Disease 

Control and 

Prevention 

(CDC), in the 

Department of 

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
34

In the three year period before 

you applied for SIF 

Since you started participating in SIF

We applied for funding 

from We received funding from We applied for funding from We received funding from

Health and 

Human 

Services 

(DHHS)

Administration 

for Children 

and Families 

(ACF), in 

DHHS

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

Other 

agency(ies) or 

offices within 

Department of 

Health and 

Human 

Services 

(specify):

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

U. S. 

Department of ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
35

In the three year period before 

you applied for SIF 

Since you started participating in SIF

We applied for funding 

from We received funding from We applied for funding from We received funding from

Housing and 

Urban 

Development 

(HUD)

U.S. 

Department of 

Labor (DoL)

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

U.S. 

Department of 

Education 

(ED)

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

Other federal 

agency

(specify):

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

40. If you have applied for or received additional federal funding since you received SIF funding, has your participation in SIF 

contributed to your ability to apply for or obtain additional federal funding? If so, how has it contributed?
36

41. Has your organization received funding from any of the following non-federal sources to provide funding to nonprofits to 

implement interventions in communities– in the three-year period before you applied for SIF and since you

started participating in SIF? (Do not include the SIF matching funds in your response.)

In the three year period before you 

applied for SIF

Since you started participating in SIF

Yes No Yes No

A. State or local 

governments

( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

B. Private foundation(s) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

C. Grant making public 

charity (solicits funds 

from diverse sources, 

including the general 

public).

( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

D.

Businesses/corporations

( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

E. Major individual 

donors (pledges greater 

than $20,000, including 

( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
37

planned gifts)

F. Annual donations 

(given directly or 

through workplace 

campaigns)

( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

G. Earned income ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

H. Other (describe) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

42. If you have received additional funding from any non-federal sources since you received SIF grant, has your participation in 

SIF contributed to your ability to apply for or obtain additional funding from these sources? If so, how has it contributed?

Reflections on SIF experience

These last questions ask you to reflect more generally on your organization’s experience with SIF.
38

43. In general, how has your organization’s experience in the SIF program been different from your experience in other grant 

programs?

44. In what ways has the SIF experience been similar?

Compared with the way other grant programs have been implemented by your organization –

45. What are the strengths/benefits of the SIF model compared with others?
39

46. What are the challenges or costs of “doing SIF”?

47. Given what you now know from your experience in the SIF program, what would you have changed about your SIF approach?

Please describe what you would have changed:

A. Scaling

B. Matching funds

C. Knowledge sharing

D. Grantee selection

E. Evaluation

F. Use of evidence and 

evaluation in grantmaking 

decisions?

G. Other areas (specify)
40

48. Would you apply for another SIF grant?

[ ] Yes

[ ] No

[ ] Don’t know

[ ] Not applicable

49. Please explain your response to the question above:

50. What recommendations do you have for improving the SIF program?
41

Thank You!

Thank you for taking our survey. Your response is very important to us.