Browse Capacity Building Resources
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The Program Manager's Guide to Evaluation A guide from the U.S. Administration for Children and Families (ACF) that explains program evaluation -- what it is, how to understand it, and how to do it.
UPDATE: Point K used to include an earlier version of this resource, for which we had a broken link for some time. The current version (with corrected link) is a black-and-white PDF of the 2010 Second Edition.
Author: Administration for Children and Families Type: Workbooks & Guides Date: Dec 8, 2010
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The Urban Institute Series on Outcome Management for Nonprofit Organizations The Urban Institute Series on Outcome Management for Nonprofit Organizations contains easy to read, practical guides for looking at outcomes for nonprofit programs. The series includes:
Author: Various Type: Research & Reports Date: Dec 4, 2009 Point K Pick
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The Way We Talk About Charity Is Dead Wrong Activist and fundraiser Dan Pallotta calls out the double standard that drives our broken relationship to charities. Too many nonprofits, he says, are rewarded for how little they spend — not for what they get done.
Author: Dan Pallotta Type: Websites & Online Tools Date: Feb 1, 2013 Be the first to review this resource! Web Link -
The ‘Most Significant Change’ Technique This 104-page guide discusses the "Most Significant Change" ("MSC") technique and its use in advocacy evaluation. The technique involves collecting stories from program participants, reviewing stories and choosing the "most significant," sharing those stories, and discussing their value and impact. The guide states that "When the technique is implemented successfully, whole teams of people begin to focus their attention on program impact." Author: Davies, Rick and Dart, Jess Type: Workbooks & Guides Date: Apr 1, 2005 Be the first to review this resource! Download (1.2 MB) -
Theory of Change Assessment: A Cheat Sheet The Theory of Change Assessment: Cheat Sheet tool can be used to conduct an analysis of a theory of change. The tool walks users through elements common to theories of change, and offers considerations for conducting the assessment. Suggestions for use include:
Author: Ehren Reed Type: Tipsheets & Paper Tools Date: Apr 1, 2011 Point K Pick Be the first to review this resource! Download (110.62 KB) -
THEORY OF CHANGE FOR FUNDERS: PLANNING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE This report talks through three different types of theories of change, each relating to one type of funder impact:
Author: Angela Kail, Dawn Plimmer Type: Research & Reports Date: Dec 1, 2014
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Three Blind Men and an Elephant: The Power of Faceted Analytical Displays In this paper, the author addersses the insights that emerge when software enables us to view a set of data from several perspectives at the same time. He describes a screen that contains multiple concurrent views of a common data set so that comparisons can be made as a “faceted analytical display.” This approach to information display provides a means to expand analytical reach by viewing data in this way.
Author: Stephen Few Type: Tipsheets & Paper Tools Date: Jan 1, 2007 Be the first to review this resource! Download (1023.41 KB) -
Toolkit for Progressive Policymakers in Developing Countries Over the last decade the UK government has been promoting the concept of "evidence-based policy" (EBP). We are constantly asked by our partners in the South about what is happening in the UK regarding EBP and what can they learn from the UK experience. The aim of this toolkit is to identify lessons and approaches from EBP in the UK which may be valuable for developing countries. The approaches and tools presented are based on the assumption that the reader is a progressive policymaker in a developing country, and one who is interested in utilising EBP. Author: Sophie Sutcliffe and Julius Court Type: Research & Reports Date: Jan 1, 2006 Be the first to review this resource! Download (394.44 KB) -
Tools and Resources for Assessing Social Impact (TRASI) TRASI is a browsable and searchable database of approaches to impact assessment, guidelines for creating and conducting an assessment, and ready-to-use tools for measuring social change.
It features more than 150 assessment tools and resources, community networking services, and informational videos and podcasts.
Author: The Foundation Center Type: Websites & Online Tools Date: Jan 1, 2010 Be the first to review this resource! Web Link -
Top 10 Benefits of Connecting With Your AEA Affiliate [Slides] At the American Evaluation Association's 2012 Annual Conference, Ann K. Emery outlined the top ten benefits of connecting with AEA Affiliates. She discusses various opportunities to volunteer, as well as opportunities to attend happy hours, free events, and join in on Board or Committee meetings.
Author: Ann K. Emery Type: Presentation Slides Date: Oct 25, 2012 Be the first to review this resource! Web Link -
Top 10 Spreadsheet Secrets from a Nonprofit Data Nerd In 2010, Innovation Network set out to answer a question that was previously unaddressed in the evaluation field-what is the state of nonprofit evaluation practice and capacity?—and initiated the first iteration of the State of Evaluation project. In 2012 we launched the second installment of the State of Evaluation project. This blog post shares highlights from that research. Author: Ann Emery Type: Opinion (blog, editorial) Date: Apr 3, 2013 Be the first to review this resource! Web Link -
Top Ten Highlights from State of Evaluation2012 in the Nonprofit Sector In 2010, Innovation Network set out to answer the question: what is the state of nonprofit evaluation practice and capacity in the U.S.? We began the State of Evaluation project with a nationwide survey of nonprofits. In 2012, we launched the second report of the project. So what’s the state of evaluation among nonprofits? Here are the top ten highlights outlined in this post! Author: Johanna Morariu, Kat Athanasiades, and Ann Emery Type: Opinion (blog, editorial) Date: Nov 20, 2013 Be the first to review this resource! Web Link -
Transactions Transformations Translations: Metrics That Matter for Building, Scaling, and Funding Social Movements Metrics can help organizations articulate where they are going, what road they are taking, and what they expect to find along the way. They can help groups strike the right balance in the trade-offs above, allocating time and energy to be maximally effective. They can serve as a guide and tool for lifting up lessons for the field and for funders.
Author: Manuel Pastor, Jennifer Ito, Rachel Rosner Type: Research & Reports Date: Oct 1, 2011
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Understanding the Public Policy Landscape: Lessons from a Retrospective Evaluation (Presentation slides) These slides accompanied a presentation at the American Evaluation Association's annual conference in October 2013 in Washington, DC.
Author: Veena Pankaj and Kat Athanasiades, Innovation NetworkType: Presentation Slides Date: Oct 16, 2013 Be the first to review this resource! Download (1.41 MB) -
Unique Methods in Advocacy Evaluation This brief describes four new methods developed to respond to advocacy’s unique measurement challenges:
- Bellwether Methodology
- Policymaker Ratings
- Intense Period Debriefs
- System Mapping
It was authored by Ehren Reed of Innovation Network and Julia Coffman, an evaluation consultant, with the support of The California Endowment. They first presented this brief at the Advocacy Evaluation Advances convening in Los Angeles, CA in January, 2009.
Author: Coffman, Julia; Reed, Ehren Type: Research & Reports Date: Jan 1, 2009
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USAID Performance Monitoring and Evaluation TIPS TIPS
USAID's Performance Monitoring and Evaluation TIPS provide practical advice and suggestions to USAID managers and partners on issues related to performance monitoring and evaluation. These publications are supplemental references to the Automated Directive Service (ADS) Chapter 203 (pdf, 264kb).
Author: USAID Type: Workbooks & Guides Date: Jan 1, 2012 Be the first to review this resource! Web Link -
Use of Qualitative Interviews in Evaluation A guide in qualitative interviewing from Meg Sewell at the University of Arizona, Tucson and Children, Youth and Families Education Research Network (CYFERnet). Includes bibliography. Author: Sewell, Meg Type: Workbooks & Guides Date: Jun 1, 1998 Be the first to review this resource! Web Link -
User-Friendly Handbook for Mixed Method Evaluations A guide to evaluation specifically geared to grantees of the National Science Foundation’s Directorate for Education and Human Resources Author: Westat, Inc. Type: Workbooks & Guides Date: Aug 1, 1997
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Using Case Studies to do Program Evaluation This guide will help evaluators assess whether to use a case study evaluation approach and how to do a case study. Author: Edith D. Balbach Type: Research & Reports Date: Dec 31, 1999 Be the first to review this resource! Download (79.49 KB) -
Using Evaluation to Become an Effective Learning Organization Philanthropists have an obligation to learn. The best way to make smarter philanthropic investments over time—and get better results from those investments—is to generate good information about what’s working, what’s not working, and why. And evaluation is key in this process.
Author: Grantmakers for Effective Organizations and PhilanthroFiles Type: Research & Reports Date: Sep 24, 2014 Be the first to review this resource! Web Link -
Using Evaluation to Reduce the Burden of Asthma: a Web-based introduction to CDC’s Framework for Program Evaluation The National Asthma Control Program, in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency, has created a four-part Webinar series on program evaluation basics. Nationally recognized experts present a general introduction to program evaluation; note challenges in conducting useful evaluations as well as methods for overcoming those challenges; and introduce the six steps of the CDC Framework for Program Evaluation using examples that are relevant to state partners of the National Asthma Control Program.
Author: Maureen Wilce Type: Websites & Online Tools Date: Dec 15, 2010 Be the first to review this resource! Web Link -
Using Focus Groups For Evaluation A guide from Mary Marczak & Meg Sewell at the University of Arizona on using focus groups to collect qualitative data for evaluation purposes. Author: Marczak, Mary and Sewell, Meg Type: Workbooks & Guides Date: Jan 1, 1998 Be the first to review this resource! Web Link -
Using Information for Policy Change: The Only Reason to Do Evaluation (In This Context) Patricia Patrizi, a "career-long evaluator," reflects on the current trends in evaluating advocacy efforts and offers suggestions. She proposes that "Policy change should be evaluated only when there is a reason to evaluate," and likens policy change evaluation to evaluating a campaign for public office. Patrizi asserts that an outcome evaluation is unnecessary, but an ongoing evaluation during the course of the campaign is helpful. Author: Patrizi, Patricia Type: Opinion (blog, editorial) Date: Mar 6, 2006 Be the first to review this resource! Download (35.5 KB) -
Using Survey Research to Evaluate Communications Campaigns This is the second Working Brief from the Communication Consortium Media Center's Media Evaluation Project. The authors seek to provide advice to nonprofit organizations that may consider using survey research to evaluate the effectiveness of a communications campagin. The Working Brief outlines the questions a nonprofit needs to ask in the design stages of a communications campaign to maximize the benefit of a survey effort. Author: Belden Russonello & Stewart Type: Research & Reports Date: Nov 1, 2004 Be the first to review this resource! Download (140.12 KB) -
Utilization Focused Evaluation Checklist Utilization-Focused Evaluation begins with the premise that evaluations should be judged by their utility and actual use; therefore, evaluators should facilitate the evaluation process and design any evaluation with careful consideration of how everything that is done, from beginning to end, will affect use. Use concerns how real people in the real world apply evaluation findings and experience and learn from the evaluation process. The checklist is based on Essentials of Utilization-Focused Evaluation (Patton, 2012, Sage Publications). Author: Michael Quinn Patton Type: Research & Reports Date: Jan 1, 2013 Be the first to review this resource! Download (595.48 KB)