“Spiraling up”: Using ripple effect mapping to evaluate how an extension volunteer program increases community development capacity

Abstract

Evaluation metrics that assess the impacts of Cooperative Extensionprogramming focus on quantifiable indicators that may overlookbroader community-level changes. This study addresses this by usingthe "spiraling up" theory of change and Ripple Effect Mapping to assesshow volunteers build Cooperative Extension's communitydevelopment capacity. Focusing on Family and Consumer Scienceagents and volunteers in the North Carolina Extension Master FoodVolunteer program, analysis focused on whether volunteers increasedExtension's bonding and bridging social capital to create a process ofexpanded community engagement. Findings indicate that volunteershelped Extension agents reach new areas, organizations, andpopulations, expanding impacts and increasing community access toresources, as suggested by the "spiraling up" theory of change. Thecommunity relationships fostered by volunteers are a key first step toincreasing Extension's capacity to affect institutional and communitylevelchanges, which provides lessons for organizations that use healthand wellness programs to promote community development.

Virtual volunteering, community support, and self-care in Chinese communities in Canada

“…Previous studies on community development and volunteering focused on how volunteer programs enhance community development 4,13 , volunteers' motivations for developing a community 14 , challenges that volunteers face in community development 15 , volunteers' involvement in the online community 16 , and volunteers' training, professionalism, and community readiness 5,17,18 . However, few studies have paid attention to the environment and health driven by virtual volunteering.…”

“…Scholars have explored the relationships between volunteer programs, community development, health, and well-being. Bloom 13 highlighted the importance of community-level impacts on health and wellness programs and proposed a theory of change to explain the mechanisms by which volunteers can affect change at the community level. Emery’s “spiraling up” theory of change and Ripple Effect Mapping evaluation methodology were applied to assess whether volunteers expanded the community-level impacts in the case of the North Carolina Extension Master Food Volunteer program.…”

“…Emery’s “spiraling up” theory of change and Ripple Effect Mapping evaluation methodology were applied to assess whether volunteers expanded the community-level impacts in the case of the North Carolina Extension Master Food Volunteer program. Bloom 13 investigated the role that volunteers play in developing a program’s social capital, and the implications for the program’s potential to affect community-level change. The author highlighted the need for a new evaluation methodology to assess these changes, and the importance of engaging the community in health and wellness programs 13 .…”

“…Bloom 13 investigated the role that volunteers play in developing a program’s social capital, and the implications for the program’s potential to affect community-level change. The author highlighted the need for a new evaluation methodology to assess these changes, and the importance of engaging the community in health and wellness programs 13 . Scholars have explored the relationships among volunteers, community development, health, and the environment.…”

Scaling Social Impact: Marketing to Grow Nonprofit Solutions

“…Zook and Allen (2011) Business growth in the form of scaling up requires a repeatable business model. Community Development Bloom (2021) Community development expands through the spiraling up theory of change. Fostering community relationships is a vital component in increasing capacity through spiraling up.…”