Browse effective Resources
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"A" Frame for Advocacy This publication defines six steps to an effective public policy advocacy effort:
- Analysis,
- Strategy,
- Mobilization,
- Action,
- Evaluation, and
- Continuity.
For each step, the tool offers key questions to be considered or actions to be taken. For example, in the second step, Strategy, one of the key actions is "Establish a working group to develop a strategy and plan activities."
Author: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health's Center for Communication Programs Type: Websites & Online Tools Date: Jan 1, 1999
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Advocacy Capacity Tool (ACT) Report: First 100 User Groups (Executive Summary) In September 2013, Alliance for Justice’s Bolder Advocacy Initiative released a report offering a glimpse into how nonprofit organizations view their capacity for public policy work. The report is based on data from the first 100 groups to complete AFJ’s online self-assessment tool, the Advocacy Capacity Tool.Author: Alliance for Justice Type: Research & Reports Date: Sep 1, 2013 Be the first to review this resource! Download (703.04 KB) -
Alliance for Justice Advocacy Capacity Tool 2013: Public Aggregate Report In September 2013, Alliance for Justice’s Bolder Advocacy Initiative released a report offering a glimpse into how nonprofit organizations view their capacity for public policy work. The report is based on data from the first 100 groups to complete AFJ’s online self-assessment tool, the Advocacy Capacity Tool.Author: UW-Stout Applied Research Center Type: Research & Reports Date: Sep 1, 2013 Be the first to review this resource! Download (1.76 MB) -
An Advocate’s Perspective: Ten Considerations for Effective Advocacy Evaluation Ted Lempert, president of the Oakland, California-based advocacy and research organization Children Now, provides his ten considerations for effective advocacy evaluation. Lempert presented this document at the Advocacy Evaluation Advances convening in Los Angeles in January, 2009.
Do you agree with these ten considerations? Should something be added to this list? Please use the comment section below to contribute to the discussion.
Author: Lempert, Ted Type: Tipsheets & Paper Tools Date: Jan 20, 2009 Be the first to review this resource! Download (66.81 KB) -
Assessing to Achieve High Performance: What Nonprofits Are Doing and How Foundations Can Help The Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) wanted to understand the state of performance assessment practice among nonprofits to help foundations target support where it is most needed. Author: The Center for Effective Philanthropy Type: Research & Reports Date: Apr 1, 2015 Be the first to review this resource! Download (1.49 MB) -
Big Issues, Many Questions What it takes for a foundation to be effective is difficult to master, yet timeless. At the same time, however, there are current trends that foundation leaders and boards must pay attention to if they want to be as effective as possible.In this essay, Big Issues, Many Questions, CEP President Phil Buchanan explores the five most pressing issues facing U.S. foundations in 2016.Author: The Center for Effective Philanthropy Type: Research & Reports Date: Apr 1, 2016 Be the first to review this resource! Web Link -
Characteristics of An Effective Stakeholder Participatory Process Creating opportunities for diverse stakeholders to engage in meaningful dialogue is often challenging. Stakeholders have different reasons for participating and have varying knowledge about the topics under discussion. A lack of trust in or understanding of the process and each other can also hinder participatory practices. The characteristics listed in this resource page show how to address these challenges and ensure and effective participatory process.
Author: Abinader Group Type: Websites & Online Tools Date: Jan 1, 2013 Be the first to review this resource! Download (575.86 KB) -
Data and Information Visualization Throughout the Evaluation Life Cycle for Participatory Evaluation and Evaluation Capacity Innovation Network shared approaches and examples of how to incorporate innovative data and information visualization techniques throughout each stage of the evaluation life cycle to support participatory evaluation and build evaluation capacity. In the planning and design phase mind mapping can be used to promote brainstorming and idea generation. In the data collection stage, evaluators can use creative visuals to improve stakeholder understanding of and participation in data collection, and evaluators can adhere to good design principles to create effective data collection instruments. Author: Johanna Morariu, Myia Welsh, Veena Pankaj, Melissa March Type: Presentation Slides Date: Nov 3, 2011 Be the first to review this resource! Web Link -
Developing effective coalitions: an eight step guide This step-by-step guide to coalition building helps partnerships launch and stabilize successfully. It supports advocates and practitioners in every aspect of the process-from determining the appropriateness of a coalition to selecting members, defining key elements, maintaining vitality, and conducting ongoing evaluations.
Author: Prevention Institute Type: Workbooks & Guides Date: Jan 1, 2002 Be the first to review this resource! Download (419.65 KB) -
Echoes from the Field: Proven Capacity-Building Principles for Nonprofits This October 2001 report summarizes the findings of a study produced in collaboration with the Environmental Support Center and funded by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. The study identified nine principles critical to effective capacity building services: self-determination, trust, readiness, ongoing learning, team and peer learning, sensitivity to different learning styles, awareness of organizational culture, interrelatedness of organizational elements, and timeframe. Author: Innovation Network, Inc. Type: Research & Reports Date: Oct 1, 2001
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Effective Advocacy Evaluation: The Role of Funders Johanna Morariu and Kathleen Brennan of Innovation Network produced this article for The Foundation Review to discuss the role of grantmakers in advocacy evaluation. The authors provide several recommendations based on their research into the practices of both advocacy grantmakers and grantees. Author: Johanna Gladfelter Morariu and Kathleen Brennan, Innovation Network Type: Research & Reports Date: Oct 1, 2009 Be the first to review this resource! Download (728.77 KB) -
Evaluating Community Change: A Framework for Grantmakers The publication offers a framework for thinking about how to measure progress and results in place-based andcommunity change initiatives.Author: Grantmakers for Effective Organization (GEO) Type: Websites & Online Tools Date: Jan 1, 2014 Be the first to review this resource! Download (2.9 MB) -
Evaluating System Change: A Planning Guide This methods brief provides guidance on planning effective evaluations of system change interventions. It begins with a general overview of systems theory and then outlines a three-part process for designing system change evaluations. This three-part process aligns (1) the dynamics of the targeted system or situation, (2) the dynamics of the system change intervention, and (3) the intended purpose(s) and methods of the evaluation.
Author: Margaret B. Hargreaves Type: Research & Reports Date: Apr 1, 2010 Be the first to review this resource! Download (1.63 MB) -
Evaluation as a Tool for Creating and Leading a Results-Based Learning Culture [Slides] Johanna Morariu and Will Fenn discussed effective evaluation initiatives, highlighting useful tools such as those available from Innovation Network’s Point K at the Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy 2013 National Conference in Chicago, IL. Author: Johanna Morariu and Will Fenn Type: Presentation Slides Date: Apr 5, 2013 Be the first to review this resource! Web Link -
Evaluation Capacity Building: Examples and Lessons from the Field Innovation Network developed these three introductory evaluation documents as part of Building Nonprofit Capacity to Evaluate, Learn, and Grow Impact, a workshop we presented in partnership with Grantmakers for Effective Organizations' Scaling What Works initiative. Author: Johanna Morariu, Innovation Network, Inc. Type: Research & Reports Date: Apr 1, 2012 Point K Pick Be the first to review this resource! Web Link -
EVALUATION CAPACITY BUILDING: Funder Initiatives to Strengthen Grantee Evaluation Capacity and Practice Evaluation Capacity Building (ECB) is the process of improving an organization’s ability to use evaluation to learn from its work and improve results. Organizational learning is incredibly important. Organizations that are adept at learning from mistakes and adapting to new challenges are more likely to be successful, and in the nonprofit sector, more likely to make significant progress toward mission-related outcomes. In general, ECB can be used to:
Author: Myia Welsh and Johanna Morariu Type: Research & Reports Date: Jun 15, 2011 Be the first to review this resource! Download (248.37 KB) -
Evaluation Resource Guide This listing and description of resources has been developed to help Department staff evaluate and monitor the performance of Department programs. It also is intended to be useful for county staff and other service providers. Resources in the Guide range from evaluation manuals providing basic information to books with detailed information on specific topics such as logic models, data analysis or sampling. Also included are resources on identifying effective programs/best practices, evaluation standards, and contracting for evaluation.
Author: Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) Type: Workbooks & Guides Date: May 1, 2010 Be the first to review this resource! Download (223.14 KB) -
From Expert to Advocate! Tools for Evidence-Based Advocacy In Your Community You are a powerful force in your community. As a service provider and/or community leader you see clearly where more progress can be made. How can you build the evidence base to change policies and increase resources to save more lives?
To get started, here are a few tools to assess gaps in service delivery and resource allocation, while increasing community and citizen ownership. These tools are just a sample of how to build your evidence base for effective advocacy. The process of developing your evidence base with your community can be as important as the end product.Author: ACTION: Advocacy to Control Tuberculosis Internationally Type: Tipsheets & Paper Tools Date: Jan 1, 2012 Be the first to review this resource! Download (684.46 KB) -
Guidance Note #4: Use of Impact Evaluation Results This is the fourth guidance note in a four-part series of notes related to impact evaluation developed by InterAction with financial support from the Rockefeller Foundation.This fourth guidance note, Use of Impact Evaluation Results, highlights three themes crucial for effective utilization of evaluation results.
Author: David Bonbright Type: Research & Reports Date: Nov 7, 2012 Be the first to review this resource! Download (1.84 MB) -
Guiding Principles for Advocacy Grantmaking As more funders turn to advocacy and policy change strategies, they want to know what works. Instead of starting from scratch, people want to know what approaches and principles show promise. In the past year alone, four helpful resources were written to advise funders on issues related to advocacy and evaluation. These four complementary resources have been synthesized and streamlined to provide a holistic reference for what makes an effective advocacy funder. Author: Johanna Morariu, M.A. Type: Workbooks & Guides Date: Sep 14, 2010 Point K Pick
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Hints for Designing Effective Questionnaires This digest offers tips on designing quality questionnaires. Some of the more prevalent problems in questionnaire development are identified and suggestions of ways to avoid them are offered. Author: Frary, Robert B. Type: Workbooks & Guides Date: Jan 1, 1996 Be the first to review this resource! Web Link -
How Can We Help Out Grantees Strengthen Their Capacity for Evaluation? There is a widespread and growing recognition in the nonprofit sector about the importance of evaluation--not only for measuring impact, but also for improving programs and better serving communities. While grantmakers generally see evaluation as necessary, most are not yet investing enough resources in this area. In 2014, nearly three quarters of nonprofits reported that their funders "rarely or never" fund impact measurement costs.
Author: Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO) Type: Research & Reports Date: Aug 1, 2015 Be the first to review this resource! Download (728.72 KB) -
Learning to Love Your Logic Model In this recorded webinar, Tom Chapel, Chief Evaluation Officer of the CDC, provides an overview of the purpose of logic models, how to use them, and common logic model components.
Summary from the CDC website:
It’s fun to make fun of logic models. While some of the criticism is justified, much is directed at a caricature of logic models that no model fan would recognize. In this webinar we’ll remind you:
Author: Thomas J. Chapel, Chief Evaluation Officer, CDC Type: Websites & Online Tools Date: Jan 1, 2017 Point K Pick Be the first to review this resource! Web Link -
Looking Through the Right End of the Telescope An evolving dialogue has emerged over the past few years between advocates, evaluation professionals, and funders concerned with evaluating advocacy. An earlier focus on questions regarding whether it is possible to evaluate advocacy has given rise more recently to a concern with producing innovations aimed at responding to the real and perceived unique challenges to evaluating advocacy.
Author: Jim Coe & Rhonda Schlangen Type: Research & Reports Date: Jun 1, 2011 Be the first to review this resource! Download (102.56 KB) -
Lori Wingate and Daniela Schroeter on Introducing the Evaluation Questions Checklist for Program Evaluation - See more at: http: A checklist for identifying criteras for creating effective and appropriate evaluation questions. Author: Lori Wingate and Daniela Schroeter Type: Tipsheets & Paper Tools Date: Jan 16, 2016 Be the first to review this resource! Web Link