Digital Commons Network^™

2019 Improving The Lives Of San Diego County Seniors Through Stable Housing: An Evaluation Of Elderhelp's Homeshare Program, Tessa Tinkler, Lisa Walker, Mary Jo Schumann

Seniors

This report, prepared by the Nonprofit Institute's Caster Center, documents the findings from a program evaluation of ElderHelp's HomeShare program, which is designed to connect individuals who want to share their homes with others looking for alternative housing options.

2019 Collaborative Species And Habitat Conservation Efforts In San Diego County: A Systematic Needs Assessment To Guide The San Diego End Extinction Initiative, Tessa Tinkler, Michelle Ahearne, Mary Jo Schumann

Environment

This report, prepared by the Caster Family Center for Nonprofit and Philanthropic Research documents the results of a systematic needs assessment prepared for the San Diego End Extinction (SDEE) initiative. The needs assessment was designed to assist SDEE to align its goals and priorities with San Diego County’s existing strengths and gaps in order to proactively prevent the loss of native plants and animals.

2019 Navigating The Future: Making A Difference For Transitioning Service Members And Families, Kim D. Hunt, Mary Jo Schumann, Lisa Walker

Military

This report, prepared by the Caster Center, is an evaluation of Year 4 of zero8hundred. Zero8hundred is a cross-sector community initiative whose mission is to proactively link transitioning service members and their families to resources and opportunities in the community, helping them successfully transition to civilian life.

2018 Learning How To Think Like An Engineer: A Design-Based Research Study Of Kid Spark Education’S Curriculum In Kindergarten, Tessa Tinkler, Megan Kelly, Ida Rose Florez

Youth, Education, and Literacy

This report, prepared by the Nonprofit Institute's Caster Center, documents the findings from a design-based research study of Kid Spark Education's early childhood engineering curriculum.

2017 The Role Of Books And Reading In Stem: An Overview Of The Benefits For Children And The Opportunities To Enhance The Field, Vitaliy Popov, Tessa Tinkler

Youth, Education, and Literacy

In April 2017, STEM Next, in partnership with the Hoag Foundation and the Molina Foundation, commissioned the Institute for Entrepreneurship in Education (IEE) and the Caster Family Center for Nonprofit and Philanthropic Research at the University of San Diego to provide an overview of literacy learning within the disciplinary context of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). This overview includes (1) a literature review on the benefits of integrating literacy and STEM for elementary and middle-school-aged children, (2) an environmental scan of reading programs, organizations, and materials that focus on Literacy in STEM, and (3) a set of criteria for …

2017 Fostering Whole Person Care Through A Care Coordination Network: Community Information Exchange San Diego, The Caster Family Center For Nonprofit And Philanthropic Research, University Of San Diego

Seniors

2-1-1 San Diego commissioned the University of San Diego’s Caster Family Center for Nonprofit and Philanthropic Research to conduct the Community Information Exchange (CIE) Cohort 2 evaluation, which focused on the senior (defined as ages 60+) population in the San Diego region.

Using a technology platform where agencies can enter and share client data, CIE strives to foster whole person care for the populations it serves (e.g., homeless, seniors, military), as well as reduce duplicative intakes and services provided by healthcare and social service agencies. By consenting into CIE, clients give permission for data sharing and may receive multiple referrals …

2017 Fieldstone Leadership Network's Learning Group Effect: Leadership Development As Capacity Building, Michelle Ahearne, Tessa Tinkler, Mary Jo Schumann

Nonprofit Leadership and Capacity Building

This report, prepared by the Caster Center, is a 5-year examination of the Fieldstone Leadership Group Program, a six-month peer-based learning community model to support the leadership development of both executive directors and senior leaders of nonprofit organizations.

2016 Food, Friends, And Health: An Evaluation Of North County Senior Connections Thyme Together Food Truck Lunch Program, Michelle Ahearne, Azadeh Davari, Tessa Tinkler, Mary Jo Schumann

Seniors

The North County Senior Connections Thyme Together Food Truck Lunch Program (subsequently referred to as NCSC) is a collaborative project initiated in November 2014 that provides affordable, nutritious lunches, recreational programming, and community information to seniors in the northern region of San Diego County (North County).

In May 2015, six months after NCSC launched, the Rancho Santa Fe Foundation commissioned the University of San Diego’s Caster Family Center for Nonprofit and Philanthropic Research (Caster Center) to: 1) evaluate NCSC’s progress towards meeting its objectives, and 2) provide feedback and recommendations for programmatic changes as necessary. This report presents the findings …

2014 California's Lanterman Act 45 Years Later: A Study Of Service Recipients' And Providers' Experiences With The Law's Legacies, Caster Family Center For Nonprofit And Philanthropic Research, The Nonprofit Institute, University Of San Diego

Legislation

The California Disability Services Association (CDSA), an association of community-based nonprofit and for-profit organizations that provide assistance to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, decided in 2013 that it was time to take a close-up look at the impact of the legislation 45 years after the act became law. It collaborated with the University of San Diego’s Caster Family Center for Nonprofit and Philanthropic Research (the Caster Center) to conduct a focus group study exploring perceptions of, and experiences with, disability services in California.

2012 Reboot Program Evaluation: A Report To The Kisco Foundation, Laura Deitrick, Ian Martin, Roxanne Ruzic

Military

The Kisco Foundation commissioned researchers at the Center for Education Policy and Law and the Caster Center for Nonprofit and Philanthropic Research at the University of San Diego to work with REBOOT, a nonprofit based in Southern California, to conduct an evaluation of its program, REBOOT WorkshopsTM (REBOOT). REBOOT is a three-week-long program designed to assist members of the military in making the social and career transition from military service to civilian life by “re-booting” their skills, attitudes, and behaviors. The evaluation detailed in this report was conducted during the summer and fall of 2012, two years after the first …

2011 National Nonprofit Employment Trends Survey, Caster Center For Nonprofit And Philanthropic Research, University Of San Diego

Nonprofit Sector Issues and Trends

The 2011 national Nonprofit Employment Trends Survey™ is intended to provide a snapshot of current employment practices and discuss the economic trends and implications of employment practices in the sector. This report, which has been produced annually by Nonprofit HR Solutions since 2007, includes responses from more than 450 nonprofits nationwide.

2008 Alumni Perspectives: Evaluation Of The Nonprofit Leadership And Management Masters Program, Linda Seifert, Heather Carpenter

USD Evaluation of Applied Learning Model in Nonprofit Leadership and Management Master's Program

In Spring 2008 the Caster Family Center for Nonprofit Research, along with the SOLES Director of Assessment, completed an alumni survey. The survey focused on how well the Nonprofit Leadership and Management program learning outcomes prepared the alumni for their professional roles, how those roles may have changed as a result of their preparation, their level of satisfaction with the various components of the program, and their perspectives on their current involvement with the program. All 65 alumni of the program were invited to participate in the survey.

2006 Report On Nonprofit Executive Transition, Laura Deitrick, Paige Creager

Nonprofit Leadership and Capacity Building

Recent national studies of executives in the nonprofit field have indicated that the sector will soon be facing a massive transition in leadership. In this study, the Center sought to define and understand the challenges posed by executive transition, and how it pertains specifically to San Diego nonprofit sector. Particular focus was placed on the number of San Diego nonprofit executives who plan to retire or leave their positions in the next 5 years.

Education And Integration: Partnering The Community With Adults With Developmental Disabilities For St. Madeline Sophia's Center, Patty Cowan, Kelly Mitchell, Wendy Morris, Ileana Ovalle

Program Design and Evaluation

Student research project for St. Madeline Sophia's Center which includes a needs assessment, program design & methodology, social marketing plan, cultural competency plan, evaluation plan and budget.