Sachi Takahashi-Rial, Listen4Good
Listen4Good is the signature initiative of the Fund for Shared Insight. We work with nonprofits (and funders) to build sustainable, equitable feedback systems that allow organizations to be more responsive to the needs of those they serve. By joining Listen4Good, nonprofits access tools, resources, and coaching support. Organizations become more client-centric in the process, more impactful, and also more inclusive, fostering shared partnerships with their community members.
Types of clients: Private foundations, Corporation foundations, Community foundations, Individual donors, Small Nonprofits, Major Nonprofits, Universities
Specialization: Listen4Good (L4G) is an initiative that helps nonprofits build high-quality systems and approaches for gathering, making sense of, and responding to feedback from the people they serve.
While organizations may ask clients for their opinions about the services they receive, far fewer are able to gather feedback systematically, analyze the data, and use it consistently to drive real change.
L4G has addressed this problem by developing a simple survey tool and personalized support system that helps organizations improve client experience. Over the past five years—working with over 625 nonprofits and more than 125 funders—we’ve demonstrated our impact:
• L4G organizations report increased capacity in their ability to collect, analyze, and use data from clients to improve programs.
• 81% of L4G organizations report making changes in programming, services, operations, and client-staff interactions as a result of client feedback.
• At least two-thirds of L4G organizations from our first cohort have continued gathering client feedback one year after the end of their engagement with L4G.
To strengthen our work, we employ a diverse group of coaching and support professionals who have expertise in survey design, data analysis, and organizational change and bring a strong equity lens to their work. Additionally, through our interactive web app, we provide nonprofits with access to our proven feedback tools, peer best practices, and rich content. We go to these lengths because we understand that to bring about greater equity between nonprofits and the people they serve, rigorous listening is required.
“I’ve just been super impressed by the value the organizations have gotten out of the Lisetn4Good experience, what I’ve learned about how to meaningfully engage in feedback practices, and the issues they’re raising for us as funders.”
– Shirin Vakharia, Marin Community Foundation
“Our foundation went into Listen4Good seeking a shared learning experience with a cohort of our grantees. We left with a commitment to feedback that would permeate every aspect of our work.”
– LaTida Smith, Moses Taylor Foundation
“Listen4Good is such a no brainer. I can’t think of a more cost-effective way of building the capacity of organizations, not just about how to use data and information from beneficiaries, but building a muscle to help these organizations going forward. We encourage all our grantees to do it.”
– Jon Sotsky, Overdeck Foundation
Sachi Takahashi-Rial
