In the fall of 2014, The Colorado Health Foundation’s board approved a multiyear commitment to support a collective impact initiative focused on transforming the health care delivery and payment reform in Colorado. The collective impact effort — named BC3, or Better Care, Better Costs, Better Colorado — worked to align partners across government, philanthropy, nonprofits, and business to accelerate achievement of the Triple Aim. A 15-member steering committee led BC3 activities.

The Georgia Health Policy Center (GHPC) evaluated the initiative on behalf of the foundation. The evaluation employed developmental and realist frameworks. These methods were selected because of the early-stage, complex, and dynamic nature of BC3’s collective impact work. With a focus on innovation and strategic learning, rather than outcomes, the evaluation examined BC3’s activities in context and provided real-time feedback to the BC3 steering committee and the foundation.

GHPC detailed both the group’s evolution and real-time trajectory through document review, key informant interviews, participation in site visits and meetings, and sensemaking exercises. The evaluation included an assessment of the initiative’s progress against the five pillars of collective impact: common agenda, shared measurement system, mutually reinforcing activities, continuous communication, and backbone support.

Population Health

Research & Evaluation