Opening: Tell Us About the Moment That Sparked This

• What event or report prompted you to explore a backbone now? Options: Community indicator report, Funder convening, School or county request, Policy deadline, Crisis or media attention, Other
• Who first raised the idea of a backbone and what was their primary concern?
• How urgent does this feel inside your organization right now? Options: Immediate (30 days), Near-term (90 days), Within 6 months, Longer horizon (6–12 months), Undefined
• Which stakeholders have already been engaged in initial conversations? Options: Community foundation, Municipal government, Corporate funder, School district, County human services, Local nonprofits, Other
• What would make you describe this moment as a clear 'green light' to move forward?

Are Short-Term Wins Masking a Bigger Problem?

• Could localized program successes be creating a false sense of progress while population outcomes remain stalled? Options: Yes — definitely, Probably, Maybe, No — unlikely
• Which programs or initiatives have produced measurable near-term gains, and can you share one concrete example?
• How long have the community-level indicators you're watching been stagnant or trending the wrong way? Options: Under 1 year, 1–3 years, 3–5 years, Over 5 years, Not sure
• When you receive progress reports now, what signals or language make you distrust that they reflect population change?
• If we focused exclusively on population-level impact, what current measurement habits would have to stop or change?

Who's Really in the Driver's Seat?

• If a key agency withholds data or declines alignment, who in your coalition can realistically compel them to change course? Options: Funder consortium, Mayor/County Executive, School Superintendent, State agency, No one currently, Other
• List the individuals or roles that must be 'on board' for this initiative to function (names, titles, or roles).
• Which parties have explicit veto authority over operations, data access, or spending? Options: School district, County human services, Lead funder, Municipal government, Other
• How have decision rights and vetoes caused delays or stalling in previous cross-sector work?
• What governance model would make you comfortable that all funders and partners have visibility while still enabling timely decisions? Options: Equal-funder board, Designated fiscal agent with advisory council, Steering committee with rotating seats, Hybrid model, Undecided

What Would Success Actually Feel Like for the Community?

• If the population-level outcome improved meaningfully, what concrete differences would families, students, or residents experience?
• Which single indicator would be the clearest signal you'd consider non-negotiable evidence of progress? Options: Reduced youth disconnection rate, Increased kindergarten readiness, Lower chronic absenteeism, Improved graduation rate, Other
• What timeline do you view as realistic for seeing early, credible signals versus demonstrable impact? Options: 6–12 months (early signals), 12–24 months (early shifts), 3–5 years (measurable impact), 5+ years (population change), Unsure
• What types of evidence would persuade you the initiative is working (administrative data, population surveys, third‑party evaluation, qualitative stories)? Options: Administrative data, Population surveys, Third‑party evaluation, Partner reports, Qualitative case studies, Other
• How will continuation or renewal decisions be made—what benchmarks and who decides?

What’s Really Blocking Shared Measurement?

• Which data-related obstacle is most actively preventing aligned measurement today—technical, legal, political, or resource-based? Options: Technical integration, Legal/privacy constraints, Partner distrust/political, Data quality/gaps, Resource/staffing, Other
• What specific data sources do you currently rely on for the target outcome, and which of those are unavailable or incomplete?
• Have privacy, FERPA/HIPAA, or other legal concerns ever stopped data-sharing agreements? If so, how long did resolution take? Options: Never an issue, Resolved quickly (<3 months), Took months (3–12), Unresolved, Not sure
• Which governance or contractual prerequisites would you require before any data flows begin (e.g., MOU, DSAs, fiscal host)? Options: MOU with agencies, Formal Data Sharing Agreement (DSA), Third‑party data custodian, IRB/ethical review, Fiscal host agreement, Other
• When partners have refused to share data in the past, what reasons did they give and how did it make other stakeholders feel?

If a Backbone Ran This, Where Would You Draw the Line?

• Which tasks would you absolutely require the backbone to own versus what you expect partners to keep? Options: Shared measurement system, Facilitation & convening, Fiscal management, Direct service delivery, Data analysis & reporting, Contract management
• What responsibilities would you refuse to transfer to an external backbone and why?
• What staffing or skillset matters most to you in a backbone (e.g., senior facilitator, data engineer, community liaison)? Options: Senior facilitator/convener, Data analyst/engineer, Program manager, Community engagement lead, Fiscal/legal officer, Other
• How long of a contract would you prefer for a backbone to be effective (design phase + embedded implementation)? Options: 6 months design only, Design + 1 year, 3 years, 3–5 years, Undecided
• What reporting rhythm and level of transparency would satisfy your funder oversight needs? Options: Monthly high-level, Quarterly detailed, Bi-annual evaluations, Real-time dashboards, Other

What Would Make Funders Pool Their Dollars Today?

• What specific assurances or guardrails would make a conservative funder agree to pooled funding immediately?
• Which fiscal arrangements would you accept for pooled funds (single fiscal agent, shared fund with joint oversight, escrow with conditions)? Options: Single fiscal agent, Joint oversight fund, Escrow with release conditions, Pass-through grants, Other
• How important is real-time visibility into spending for each funder versus aggregated reporting? Options: Individual funder-level visibility required, Aggregated reporting sufficient, Combination, Undecided
• What red lines would cause a funder to withdraw from pooled funding (e.g., lack of transparency, missed benchmarks, governance changes)?
• Who in your funder group would be the toughest to persuade, and what would they need to see to change their mind?

Readiness: What Can We Commit to Right Now?

• What single barrier would stop a launch within the next 90 days if it is not resolved?
• Which of the following are already in place to enable launch? Options: Signed MOU(s), Preliminary data access, Committed pooled funds, Identified backbone lead, Partner letters of support, None of the above
• Do you currently have baseline data for the target outcome that a backbone could use on day one? Options: Yes—complete baseline, Partial baseline available, No baseline, Not sure
• Which internal champion or office will lead day-to-day coordination until the backbone is contracted?
• What immediate next step would you be willing to commit to in the next 2 weeks (e.g., convene steering group, sign MOU, share sample data schema)? Options: Convene steering group, Sign MOU, Share data schema/sample, Allocate seed funding, Assign internal champion, Other

Final Reflection: Risks, Trade-offs, and the Thing You’re Afraid to Say

• What risk keeps you up at night about committing to a backbone (political backlash, wasted funds, inability to deliver outcomes)?
• What is one compromise you are willing to make to accelerate alignment, and one you are not willing to concede?
• If we could guarantee one immediate benefit in the first 3 months, which would change your willingness to proceed? Options: Clear baseline & dashboard, Signed DSAs with key partners, Initial pooled funding tranche, Pilot coordination with 2 partners, Other
• Who should we bring into the next conversation to move from discovery to a shared design phase?
• Is there anything you haven’t said yet that would help us design a backbone you could genuinely trust?

Quick Orientation: What's on the Table?

• Which population-level outcome are we here to move? Options: Chronic absenteeism, Kindergarten readiness, Youth disconnection, Chronic disease / health outcome, High school graduation, Other
• Who in your organization is stewarding this effort (name, title, and primary decision authority)?
• What triggered this convening—select all that apply or add more detail Options: New community indicator report, Funder concern / board request, Policy change or mandate, Crisis or media attention, Funding opportunity / RFP, Other
• Who do you already believe absolutely must be at the table for this to succeed (list agencies/roles)? Options: School district leader, County human services director, Public health director, Community foundation representative, Mayor/Mayor's office staff, Major local nonprofit, Other
• How long has your community been tracking this outcome with data you consider reasonably reliable? Options: Under 1 year, 1–3 years, 3–5 years, Over 5 years, We have not been tracking consistently
• In one sentence: why do you feel this moment is the right one to prioritize this effort?

Why Has This Stalled—Even with Lots of Good Work?

• With many programs already working on this, what is the single biggest reason the population metric hasn’t budged?
• Approximately how many distinct funded programs or initiatives currently target this outcome? Options: 1–3, 4–7, 8–12, More than 12, Not sure
• Where do you see the largest program overlaps or duplication (geography, age-group, service type)?
• How are funds typically allocated across those programs—many small pilots, several medium programs, or a few large contracts? Options: Many small pilots/grants, Several medium-sized programs, A few large contracts, Mixed / unclear
• Which previously tried strategies or reforms were paused or ended in the last three years, and why?
• Has this community ever used a neutral backbone or shared-measurement approach before? What happened? Options: Yes — succeeded, Yes — started but stalled, No — never tried, Tried informally

Where the Data Has Let You Down

• If you could fix one data failure that would change your strategy tomorrow, what would it be?
• Which data sources currently inform your view of progress? (select all that apply) Options: School information system (SIS), State administrative datasets, County human services records, Claims / Medicaid, Homeless management info (HMIS), Population surveys, Direct assessments / screeners, Partner MIS, Other
• How timely are those data sources for decision-making? Options: Real-time / near real-time, Monthly, Quarterly, Biannual, Annual or slower, Irregular
• Which indicator definitions or calculations currently differ between partners and cause confusion?
• Are there legal, technical, or trust barriers preventing partners from sharing person-level or aggregate data? Options: Legal / privacy constraints, Technical / system incompatibility, Concerns about how data will be used, Lack of data governance agreements, No significant barriers
• Can you give an example where poor data quality or delayed reporting led to the wrong strategic decision?

Who Holds the Keys — and Who’s Locked Out?

• Which single stakeholder could halt progress immediately by withholding data, alignment, or a formal decision?
• Which entities currently hold budget authority that would be part of pooled funding (select all that apply)? Options: Community foundation(s), City / mayor's office, County government, Corporate donor(s), State agency, Other
• How clear are decision rights across funders, backbone, school, and county today? Options: Very clear, Generally clear but some gaps, Unclear with frequent disputes, No formal decision structure
• When a critical data or policy decision needs to be made, what is the current escalation path (describe who decides and how)?
• How comfortable are the superintendent and county director with visible, pooled governance (full transparency of budget and results)? Options: Very comfortable, Somewhat comfortable, Hesitant but negotiable, Opposed / major concerns

Where Partnerships Fray

• What recurring partner behavior most consistently signals that collaboration is starting to break down?
• How do partners currently hold each other accountable for progress (select all that apply)? Options: Contractual deliverables, Quarterly convenings, Performance-based payments, Informal peer pressure, No consistent accountability mechanism
• What incentives exist that make organizations prioritize their own program metrics over shared population outcomes?
• How often does leadership or front-line staff turnover create gaps in coordination? Options: Very frequently (monthly/quarterly), Regularly (annually), Occasionally, Rarely
• Are there existing MOUs, contracts, or procurement rules that prevent partners from changing practice quickly? If so, where?
• Recall a recent partnership conflict—what triggered it and what was the outcome?

The Hidden Failure Modes — What You Usually Don't Say Out Loud

• What uncomfortable truth does the room avoid saying about why progress stalls?
• To what extent does fear of being blamed or losing funding limit partners from sharing honest data or admitting failure? Options: Severely limits openness, Somewhat limits openness, Minimal impact, Not a factor
• How would you rate partner analytic capacity to engage with shared measurement and rapid-cycle improvement? Options: High — strong internal analytics, Moderate — some capacity, Low — limited capacity, None — relies entirely on external analysts
• Are there perverse payment or reporting incentives (e.g., paid for enrollment not outcomes) that we should explicitly address? Options: Yes — major issue, Yes — minor issue, No, Unsure
• Which operational constraints—IT systems, procurement, HR policies—most frequently derail attempts to adapt?

If We Mapped a Baseline That Actually Mattered

• If a neutral backbone produced one credible baseline tomorrow, what would it need to include so everyone would accept it?
• Which indicators would you insist be on a shared dashboard (select up to 6)? Options: Population-level outcome metric, Leading indicators (early signals), Service reach / coverage, Equity-disaggregated measures, Process / fidelity metrics, Cost per outcome / spend transparency, Other
• What short-term signals (3–12 months) would convince funders that implementation is headed in the right direction? Options: Improved data timeliness, Established MOUs/data agreements, Early improvements in leading indicators, Partner onboarding completed, Financial transparency / pooled budget set up, Other
• What timeline do anchor funders expect for seeing meaningful population-level change? Options: Under 1 year, 1–3 years, 3–5 years, 5+ years, Funders have not agreed on timeline
• What would be the minimum acceptance criteria for partners to sign onto a shared measurement approach?
• Which immediate actions in the first 90 days would most reduce risk (pick up to three)? Options: Execute data-sharing agreements, Create shared indicator definitions, Establish pooled-funding governance, Staff backbone team (facilitator/analyst), Run a rapid baseline analysis, Other
• Realistically, how ready is your organization to commit staff time and share data during a six-month design phase? Options: Fully ready, Partially ready, Need negotiation with leadership, Not ready

A Quick Snapshot — Who's in the Room?

• Who is convening this effort and why now? Options: Community foundation, Municipal government / Mayor, Corporate social investment, County government, School district leadership, Coalition of funders, Other
• Which individuals or offices will be our primary sponsors and day‑to‑day contacts? (Name & title or role)
• Which of these groups will need visibility into results and budgets? (Select all that apply) Options: Pooled anchor funders, Mayor/City Manager, School Superintendent or Deputy, County Human Services Director, Lead implementing nonprofit(s), State agency partner, Other
• What’s your single most important objective for the first 12 months? Options: Establish shared measurement, Secure pooled funding terms, Obtain baseline data from schools/agency, Launch pilot interventions, Build partner governance, Other
• In one sentence, what keeps you up at night about this initiative?

Are We Settling for 'Good Enough' — Or Ready to Shift the Curve?

• We’ve seen committees convene for years without population change — are you prepared to change how decisions and accountability actually happen? Options: Yes — ready to change structures, Somewhat — open but cautious, Not yet — prefer to preserve current roles, Unsure
• Which community indicator triggered this convening, and what has its trajectory looked like over the last 3–5 years? Options: Chronic absenteeism, Kindergarten readiness, Youth disconnection, High school graduation, Chronic disease indicator, Other
• Tell us about a recent moment when you realized existing programs weren’t moving the needle — what happened and why did it matter?
• How much progress would feel like real movement to your funders and political sponsors in 18 months? Options: Clear measurable improvement, Early signals of change, Stronger data flows and baselines only, Better governance but no outcome change yet
• How emotionally or politically costly would failure to show progress be for your convening sponsors? Options: High — could end funding/political support, Moderate — reputational strain, Low — exploratory effort, Unsure

What’s Getting in the Way — Where the Real Friction Lives

• If we name the single biggest obstacle preventing population progress, what is it? Options: Inadequate shared measurement, Siloed data & legal barriers, Competing program incentives, Unstable multi-year funding, Weak partner accountability, Other
• Which of these data and governance issues are active problems today? (Select all that apply) Options: No common indicators agreed, Schools restrict student data access, No MOU in place for county data, Different providers use incompatible systems, No regular reporting cadence, Governance has no veto/appeal process
• Describe a specific example when data or governance issues blocked decision‑making or progress.
• How often do partners miss agreed reporting or attendance commitments that stall action? Options: Almost always, Often, Sometimes, Rarely, Never
• When partners disagree on priorities, how are decisions typically resolved today? Options: Funders arbitrate, Convener decides, Steering committee vote, No clear process — it stalls, Other

What Would It Look Like to Really Move the Needle?

• Imagine the community indicator improved measurably — what would that change look and feel like for the people you serve?
• Which specific success signals would convince you this initiative is working within 24 months? (Select up to three) Options: Improved outcome metric, Reliable quarterly data pipeline, Partners meeting attendance >90%, Pooled funds flowing to backbone, MOUs signed by schools/agencies, Other
• What evidence would be required for your board or elected leaders to publicly endorse scaling the approach? Options: Rigorous external evaluation, Consistent positive trend in outcome data, Cost‑benefit or ROI estimate, Clear beneficiary stories and case studies, Other
• If timelines had to be compressed, which trade‑offs would you accept: faster pilot with narrower population, or slower but broader rollout? Options: Faster, narrow pilot, Slower, broad rollout, Neither — maintain ideal scope, Undecided
• Who in this ecosystem would feel the biggest relief or gain if outcomes improved?

Who's Actually Holding The Keys — Decision Rights and Data Gatekeepers

• Who must say 'yes' before any data sharing, MOU, or pooled funding arrangement can proceed? Options: School Superintendent, County Human Services Director, Lead funder(s) board, City legal counsel, State agency, Other
• Have any of those gatekeepers previously withheld data or vetoed initiatives? Tell us the context and outcome.
• What would persuade a veto authority to agree to limited, phased data sharing? Options: Strong privacy safeguards, Clear use cases and benefits, Legal MOUs and IGA, Pilot with narrow data fields, Other
• Who on your side has the political mandate and time to negotiate MOUs and legal agreements?
• If a core gatekeeper says no, what escalation paths or alternatives are available? Options: Escalate to funder consortium, Policy/legislative action, Redesign to use anonymized/aggregate data, Proceed with willing partners only, Other

What Would Make a Backbone Truly Indispensable to You?

• When you compare backbones, which of these differentiators matters most to your decision? Options: Proven population outcomes in similar communities, Highly specific shared measurement design, Skilled facilitation and partner management, Track record managing pooled funds, Technical data systems & analysts, Other
• How detailed do you expect the shared‑measurement framework to be at launch (indicators, sources, frequency, roles)? Options: Fully specified at six months, Core indicators at launch, others phased, High‑level now, detail later, Unsure
• Which backbone functions would you insist the host retain throughout implementation versus what could be outsourced? Options: Ongoing facilitation, Data analysis & system maintenance, Fund management & contracting, Communications & stakeholder engagement, Evaluation design, Other
• What reporting cadence and format will satisfy funder governance needs? Options: Quarterly written dashboards + monthly touchpoints, Monthly dashboards + quarterly public reports, Biannual deep evaluations, Real‑time dashboard access for funders, Other
• Share an example of a backbone action or behavior that would immediately build your trust.

Practical Readiness — Can We Launch Without Surprises?

• If we set a launch date 90 days out, what is the single non‑negotiable item that must be in place? Options: Signed MOUs/agreements, Baseline data received and validated, Pooled funding cashflow, Core partner roles confirmed, Shared measurement framework agreed
• Which data sources are required for baseline measurement and who controls them?
• What legal or privacy approvals typically take the longest in your context, and how long do you expect them to take? Options: Data use agreement negotiation, Institutional review/IRB, County/city legal review, State agency approvals, Other
• Who will serve as the backbone’s named liaison for data, legal, and finance respectively (name/title or role)?
• What contingency plans should we prepare in case key data or an MOU is delayed past launch? Options: Use proxy/aggregate data, Phase indicators and rollout, Pilot with subsets of partners, Delay launch until resolved, Other

Commitment, Acceptance Criteria, and Next Steps

• What does a formal 'go' decision look like for your funders and lead agencies — who signs, and what documents accompany that sign‑off?
• Which acceptance criteria will you require before releasing pooled funds? (Select all that apply) Options: Signed governance charter, Data sharing agreements executed, Baseline data validated, Backbone staffing plan approved, Shared measurement framework finalized, Other
• What timeline for initial onboarding and baseline establishment feels realistic to your sponsors? Options: 30–60 days, 60–90 days, 3–6 months, Longer than 6 months
• What are the immediate next three decisions you expect to make after this discovery conversation?
• How would you like us to document and share the discovery findings (format and cadence)? Options: Written discovery brief, Executive slide deck, Dashboard with action items, Recorded stakeholder interview highlights, Other

Opening: Tell Us About Your Trigger Moment

• What specific community indicator or report brought you to this conversation? Options: Youth disconnection (NEET), Kindergarten readiness, Chronic absenteeism, Chronic disease rate, Other
• How long has that indicator been stagnant or trending in the wrong direction? Options: Under 1 year, 1–2 years, 3–5 years, 5+ years, Not sure
• Who first raised the need for a coordinated response—foundation, elected official, school district, or another party? Options: Community foundation, Mayor's office/City, County government, School district, Corporate funder, Other
• What immediate emotions or pressures did that report create for your leadership (e.g., urgency, skepticism, frustration)?
• If you had to name one shortcoming in the current public conversation about this indicator, what would it be?

Are We Mistaking Activity for Progress?

• What makes you confident that the programs currently funded are not producing genuine population-level improvement?
• Which of these describes the dominant reporting habit you see today? Options: Output-focused (services delivered), Short-term outcome snapshots, Anecdote-driven updates, Robust population metrics
• Which programs or funding streams have overlapped most painfully in the last three years? Options: Early childhood programs, After-school/OST, Behavioral health supports, Workforce programs, School-based interventions, Other
• Can you describe a concrete example where many organizations were active but the outcome did not budge?
• How has this pattern (lots of activity, little change) affected your confidence in continuing current funding approaches? Options: Undermined confidence significantly, Raised concerns but still hopeful, Has not affected confidence, Unsure

Who's In The Room — And Who's Silent?

• If a key data-holding agency refused to share records tomorrow, how would that change your willingness to move forward?
• Which stakeholders currently have effective veto power over the initiative’s viability? Options: School superintendent, County human services director, Public health director, Elected official (mayor/council), Foundation president, Other
• How aligned are the anchor funders around pooled-funding expectations and reporting transparency? Options: Fully aligned, Mostly aligned with caveats, Divergent priorities, Not yet discussed
• Which partner types have historically withheld or limited participation—and what reasons did they give?
• Who else absolutely must be at the table to avoid a governance or data blind spot? Options: School district IT/data office, County legal counsel, State agency representative, Community-based organization leaders, Healthcare system, Other

What Keeps This Outcome Stuck?

• What recurring failure mode shows up across past initiatives (e.g., short funding cycles, siloed data, misaligned incentives)?
• Which governance gaps most hinder joint action today? Options: No shared decision rights, No funder reporting alignment, No data-sharing agreements, No agreed indicators, No accountability mechanism
• How reliable are existing data sources for measuring the target population and outcome? Options: Highly reliable, Moderately reliable, Low reliability, Unknown
• Where are the biggest measurement blind spots for the outcome (populations, geographies, time periods)?
• What unintended consequences or perverse incentives have emerged from previous measurement or funding approaches?

If the Community Could Wake Up Better...

• Imagine the target indicator improved substantially—what would daily life feel like differently for the people affected?
• Which concrete success signals would convince you the community is actually improving? Options: Population-level indicator change, Improved service penetration in target group, Reduced disparities by race/income, Sustained school attendance gains, Health utilization improvements
• What timeline for visible early signals feels realistic and credible to you? Options: 3–6 months, 6–12 months, 12–24 months, 24+ months
• Which sub-populations should we prioritize to drive measurable, equitable change? Options: Low-income children, Students of color, English learners, Children with disabilities, Justice-involved youth, Other
• How would meaningful improvement shift your organization’s priorities, budgets, or political will?

What Would You Need to Commit?

• What would have to be true for you to sign a multi-year pooled-funding commitment today?
• What level of financial risk are anchor funders willing to accept for a three-to-five-year backbone engagement? Options: High risk (flexible funds), Moderate (some contingency), Low (strict conditions), Only time-limited pilot funding
• Would your organization accept a governance model that gives equal visibility to other funders and partners? Options: Yes, Yes with conditions, No, Unsure
• What acceptance criteria (milestones, indicators, governance checkpoints) are non-negotiable for your continued funding?
• What decision-making timeline and approvals are required from your leadership to commit multi-year? Options: Immediate executive sign-off, Board approval in 1–2 months, Board approval in 3–6 months, Longer/unclear

Practical Roadblocks: Data, Governance, and Money

• Which single practical constraint is most likely to stall launch within 90 days? Options: Data access, Legal MOUs, Partner buy-in, Funding shortfall, Staffing/capacity
• Do any key agencies face legal or policy barriers to sharing the individual-level data needed for shared measurement? Options: Legal restrictions, Technical restrictions, Both, No barriers, Unsure
• Which systems will a shared measurement platform need to integrate with first? Options: Student information system (SIS), County social service database, Health records/EHR, Partner CRMs, Other
• How much baseline and historical data is accessible today for the target population? Options: Comprehensive multi-year data, Partial data across sources, Sparse snapshots, None
• What internal approvals (legal, IT, procurement) must be completed before we can provision a shared measurement system?
• How quickly could your organization designate a sponsorship-level point person and commit staff hours? Options: Immediately, Within 1–4 weeks, Within 1–3 months, Longer/unsure

Signals, Evidence, and Accountability That Would Convince You

• What type or weight of evidence would make you stop funding a failing approach or scale a promising one?
• Which evidence types matter most when assessing impact? Options: Population-level indicators, Quasi-experimental analysis, Randomized evaluation, Implementation fidelity metrics, Case studies/stories, Cost-effectiveness
• What minimum magnitude of change (approximate percentage point) would you want to see before increasing investment? Options: 1–5%, 6–10%, 11–20%, 20%+
• How should partner adherence and accountability be enforced in a pooled model? Options: Milestone-based payments, Public scorecards, Governance votes/penalties, Supportive remediation with TA, Other
• Which independent validators or evaluators would you trust most to verify results? Options: Local university partner, National evaluator, Jointly appointed evaluator, Internal audit with external review, No preference

First Small Steps — How Would You Know We’re Ready?

• What small, non-negotiable milestone would prove we’re ready to launch a pilot?
• Which of these readiness items must be in place before you would greenlight an initial launch? Options: MOUs signed, Data pipelines tested, Baseline established, Staff assigned, Budget committed, Initial convening scheduled
• Who should be the first facilitator and data analyst we assign to this effort? Options: Backbone staff lead, Partner-nominated facilitator, External consultant, Joint team
• What will success look like at 90 days after launch (concrete indicators or behaviors)?
• How often would you like a funder steering group to meet to maintain momentum and make rapid decisions? Options: Monthly, Quarterly, Biannually, As-needed
• Which communication channel would you prefer for daily-to-weekly issues and escalation? Options: Shared dashboard, Weekly email digest, Dedicated Slack/Teams channel, Regular steering committee updates, Other