"Never be afraid to sit awhile and think." - Lorraine Hansberry

WHAT IS THIS EXPERTISE? WHY DOES IT MATTER?

When it is time to determine where the work has led us, what it means, and where to go from there, it is important to take time for reflection. Considering what has been learned and figuring out how thoughtfully to apply those insights for charting future courses of action are critical acts undertaken by every nonprofit organization and philanthropic institution at important moments in the evolution of an initiative.

In the field of social change, information is constantly expanding. Our knowledge of what works to improve access to jobs for low skilled workers or what it takes to help five-year-olds enter school ready to learn improves with each new strategy. Whether we learn what to do or what not to do, the knowledge base grows with each effort. Information about the issues we address may be traced to numerous sources ranging from academic journals to periodicals and recently released news not yet published. Practices like environmental scanning enable an organization or partnership to conduct a systematic search for knowledge that might inform or otherwise enhance the group’s understanding of the issue it aims to address.

The T. L. Hill Group assists nonprofit and philanthropic organizations in gathering, analyzing, and synthesizing information for use by its members in making decisions about how the work needs to advance.  We often are our own best sources of information.  Whether a group has compiled quantitative and qualitative data about an initiative and seeks to sort through findings and implications or is interested in collecting a range of types of information that would inform the design of an internal study, an informal research project, or a formal evaluation, the T. L. Hill Group is able to assist. 

Areas of expertise include improving vulnerable young adult transitions, implementing multicultural strategies, designing human resource solutions that match your organization's needs.

TYPES OF PRODUCTS

All projects undertaken by the T. L. Hill Group are customized.  As a result, all products are tailored to meet the expectations specified in a scope of work negotiated with each client.  No “boiler plate” formats are used.  Therefore, in lieu of product templates, the T. L. Hill Group is able to share the examples below listed of products completed to date.  Any new work would result in a product uniquely designed to meet particular needs of the client.

CLIENTS who have tapped into this expertise

A select group of projects implemented by the T. L. Hill Group which demonstrate skill in gathering, analyzing, and synthesizing information for decisions is below listed.
  • The Ford Foundation: Funders Network on Population, Reproductive Health & Rights, Women of Color Working Group (http://www.fundersnet.org), Collaborative Fund Project. Produced a report on how to design a new collaborative fund based on interviews and information gathered on more than six major philanthropic funds. The Women of Color Working Group used the report to design components of a new fund and to determine the efficacy of launching a new fund. (June 2005 through March 2006)
  • Management Assistance Group (http://www.managementassistance.org): Society of American Law Teachers (http://www.saltlaw.org) - Committee Chair Interviews and Synthesis. As a subcontractor to the Management Assistance Group, interviewed ten Committee Chairs within the Society of American Law Teachers to determine how their responsibilities, work products, and future projects would affect internal deliberation regarding how to meet the organization's staffing needs. (April 2006)
  • Council on African American Affairs (http://www.africanamericanaffairs.org): Summer Research Fellows Program. Conducted a summer program with research fellows to engage them in an environmental scanning project to recommend to the Board of Trustees a strategic direction for the Council's inaugural policy initiative. Recommendations presented by the research fellows were approved by the Ron Brown Scholar Alumni and by the Council on African American Affairs Board of Trustees. (June through August 2002).
  • National Youth Employment Coalition (http://www.nyec.org): Issue Area Strategy. Facilitated the development of an issue area strategy based on a review of the National Youth Employment Coalition's (NYEC) three-year plan and consultation with NYEC staff members with periodic review by the Board. (February 2002 through December 2003).

SAMPLE OF PRIOR WORK

The T. L. Hill Group applies expertise in education, workforce and youth development, and international development with knowledge of resources in policy, practice, research and evaluation, and human service system reform.