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
We’ve compiled a list of opportunities for you to strengthen your knowledge of digital security and how to protect community data and your organizational infrastructure. You may also be able to get financial support for the sessions that charge a fee. Learn how!
COO is recruiting for up to 6 positions on our Governance Group. Learn why you might want to apply, and how. The due date for this round is May 28.
The Washington Nonprofit Legal Checklist is intended to help nonprofits in Washington State avoid common legal risks and achieve better legal health. This is not legal advice, though the materials were created by the lawyers at Communities Rise.
An introductory toolkit for mutual aid organizing—from starting a group to sustaining it for the long haul
This program is ideal for: Anyone that is a part of movement work (activists, organizers, staff, etc.) that is ready to develop a stronger politic and take up practices of access and disability justice. General alignment with the 10 principles of Disability Justice.
A new pilot partnership between Communities of Opportunity (COO) and BIPOC ED Coalition of Washington State is bringing wellness and sustainability resources to 15 local organizations.
News, stories, and recent articles from and about COO partners in community for April/May 2025.
Are you ready to reimagine how we govern and lead in ways that center justice, healing, and collective power? The Learning Community invites you to participate in a four-month virtual learning circle series designed to help community leaders, staff, and board members shift from extractive models of governance to liberatory, community-rooted practices. Register by June 4!
The Vets Engaged program strives to reduce veterans' feelings of isolation by providing socialization opportunities for them and their families, to help address the inequities they may face while creatively building community. Apply by May 30.
Applicants have an opportunity to be awarded federal HUD funds for eligible 2026 CDBG non-housing projects that serve low- and moderate-income communities. Pre-application closes May 19; full application closes June 20.
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.
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.