Training

Innovation Network provides comprehensive trainings on evaluation fundamentals. Our trainings are highly interactive and engaging, and are available online or in person.

No matter how much or how little experience you have with evaluation, or how extensive your evaluation challenges are, we can help.

Our Services: Consulting | Training | Research

We provide tailored training on a number of evaluation topics.

The Fundamentals of Evaluation: We teach grantees and grantmakers about Evaluation 101-level topics. We often structure workshop content around a mindmap, like the one shown at right.

Examples: 

• 90-minute webinars on Terms, Tips, and Trends: Evaluation Essentials for Nonprofits
• Ask an Evaluator in-person trainings for nonprofits in the Washington, DC area
• Performance Management and Evaluation: Two Sides of the Same Coin
• Defining Evaluation in Philanthropy
• Evaluation as a Tool for Creating and Leading a Results-Based Learning Culture
• Portfolio Evaluation vs. Grant Evaluation

Logic Models and Evaluation Plans: We train nonprofits and foundations on all stages of the evaluation lifecycle, with a special emphasis on evaluation planning tools such as logic models and evaluation plans.

Examples: 

• 90-minute Do-It-Yourself Logic Models webinar series
• Trainings based on our Logic Model Workbook
• Trainings based on our Evaluation Plan Workbook

Data Collection, Analysis, and Reporting: We train nonprofits, funders, and evaluators to collect, analyze, and visualize data.

Examples:

• Data placemats
• DataViz! Tips, Tools, and How-Tos for Visualizing Your Data
• DataViz! Or, How to Win at Communications and Influence People
• Beyond Boring Bar Charts
• How to Fool Excel into Creating Any Chart You Want

Research on Nonprofit Evaluation Practices and Capacity: We regularly speak on panels about our State of Evaluation research project, the first project to systematically and repeatedly survey a nationwide sample of nonprofits about their evaluation capacity and practices.

Examples:

• Brown bag for the Washington Evaluators
• Panel at American University
• Presentation at the American Evaluation Association's annual conference

The Fundamentals of Advocacy Evaluation: Many nonprofits and foundations are using advocacy strategies to meet their missions. Just like any other work that organizations engage in, advocacy efforts need to be continually assessed, tweaked, and strengthened through a process of evaluation and learning. 

Examples:

• Trainings based on Pathfinder: A Practical Guide to Advocacy Evaluation
• 9 Steps to Advocacy Evaluation
• Understanding the Public Policy Landscape
• Learning Across the Experiences of Seven Advocacy Evaluators

Coalition Assessment: A coalition is an alliance for combined action. Coalitions are an important tool in the advocacy and policy change toolbox. Innovation Network has been evaluating coalitions since 2006, beginning with the Coalition for Comprehensive Immigration Reform, a national effort to secure passage by the U.S. Congress for Comprehensive Immigration Reform. Our trainings provide practitioners and funders through the coalition assessment process and provide concrete examples and lessones we've learned from our work. 

Examples:

• Trainings based on Coalition Assessment: Approaches for Measuring Capacity and Impact
• Coalition Assessment: Case Study and Frequently Asked Questions
• Assessing Capacity for Community Change Efforts

Training Delivery: Our training modules are available as a 90-minute online training, a half-day in-person session, or a full-day in-person workshop.

Ongoing Assistance: We also provide ongoing technical assistance to help guide participants as they integrate training principles with their real-life needs.

Online Tools: Our training approach and materials can be used with or without our free online tools at the Point K Learning Center.

Our trainings have been delivered to hundreds of participants, from grassroots nonprofit staff to foundation program officers, and from California to Ireland.

Training clients include:

• Global Rights (Washington, DC)
• Advocates for Youth (Washington, DC)
• Kansas Health Foundation (Wichita, KS )
• California Immigrant Policy Center (Los Angeles, CA )
• Atlantic Philanthropies Ireland (Dublin, Ireland and Belfast, Northern Ireland )
• Colorado Trust and Colorado Health Foundation (Denver, CO )
• United Way of Cambridge and North Dumfries (Ontario, Canada)
• US Human Rights Fund (Chicago, IL)

We have also presented public trainings at nonprofit and evaluation training centers and conferences. 

More information about each training module is available in our Training Services description.

Want to hear about upcoming trainings? Subscribe to our newsletter.

Want to inquire about tailored trainings for your organization? Contact us.