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Expanding The Bench (ETB) is a U.S. initiative focused on making the evaluation field more equitable. Its core goal is to advance culturally responsive and equitable evaluation (CREE) and increase the visibility, opportunities, and influence of racially and ethnically diverse evaluators within the U.S. evaluation ecosystem. It is more of a “professional development program + evaluator network + field-building initiative” than a general online course platform.
ETB’s educational component is mainly reflected in the LEEAD Program and the CREE Learning Series. LEEAD is designed for diverse evaluation leaders who want to build their capacity in CREE practice, and includes three parts: online coursework, mentor matching, and virtual practicum projects. The program began in 2015, and the available text indicates that 81 Scholars have completed it. The ACE Evaluation Network is an evaluator community and database that connects evaluators with CREE experience, funders, and evaluation partners, while also offering career opportunities, professional development, community events, and project visibility.
The ACE Evaluation Network is free for evaluators to join and also free for users searching for evaluators. LEEAD Scholars, Alumni, and ACE members can access related services for free. ETB’s sustainability funding comes from funder subscriptions and one-time à la carte services, but the publicly available text does not disclose specific pricing. It only states that services can be purchased as annual service packages or one-time services.
Its strength lies in its highly focused positioning. Around CREE, it has built a terminology system, practice pathway, mentor network, and evaluator database, with a clear stance on equity, anti-racism, and the redistribution of power in the evaluation field. LEEAD combines learning, mentorship, and hands-on practicum projects, making it highly practical. Its limitations are that publicly available information is incomplete: specific course outlines, learning duration, certificates, application and selection details, and pricing are all insufficiently disclosed. At the same time, the program is clearly centered on the U.S. evaluation ecosystem, so its direct relevance for international learners or Chinese organizations may be limited.
It is suitable for U.S.-based evaluation professionals, especially racially and ethnically diverse evaluators and those who have been historically or currently underrepresented. It is also suitable for foundations, nonprofits, research institutions, and funders looking for evaluation partners with CREE capabilities. If you simply want to learn general program evaluation methods, you may need to pair it with resources from AEA, BetterEvaluation, or MOOC courses.
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