Browse capacity Resources
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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) -
Evaluating the Effectiveness of DFID's Influence with Multilaterals This report is based on investigations carried out over five weeks involving approximately 40 organizations in the international NGO community. The report covers four main topics
Author: Davies, Rick Type: Research & Reports Date: Aug 1, 2001 Be the first to review this resource! Download (436.5 KB) -
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 Contracts Checklist Dr. Daniel Stufflebeam, founder of Western Michigan University’s The Evaluation Center, created this checklist for coming to agreement on an evaluation contract. This resource is particularly helpful for funder and practioners preparing for the first time to work with an external evaluator. Author: Daniel Stufflebeam Type: Tipsheets & Paper Tools Date: Jan 1, 1999 Be the first to review this resource! Download (26.51 KB) -
Evaluation for Improvement: A Seven-Step Empowerment Evaluation Approach This manual is designed to help violence prevention organizations hire an empowerment evaluator who will assist them in building their evaluation capacity through a learn-by-doing process of evaluating their own strategies. It is for state and local leaders and staff members of organizations, coalitions, government agencies, and/or partnerships working to prevent violence. Some parts of the manual may also be useful to empowerment evaluators who work with these organizations. Author: Pamela J. Cox, Dana Keener, Tiffanee L. Woodard, & Abraham J. Wandersman Type: Workbooks & Guides Date: Jan 1, 2009 Be the first to review this resource! Download (2.86 MB) -
Evaluation for the Way We Work Michael Quinn Patton describes the developmental evaluation approach. Here is an excerpt from the article:
Author: Michael Quinn Patton Type: Newsletters & Periodicals Date: Mar 21, 2006 Be the first to review this resource! Download (886 KB) -
Evaluation Handbook This 116-page .pdf handbook, written for evaluation novices, provides a framework for thinking about evaluation as a relevant and useful program tool. Author: W.K. Kellogg Foundation Type: Workbooks & Guides Date: Jan 1, 1998 Be the first to review this resource! Download (354.1 KB) -
Evaluation Logic Model A logic model overview with links to workbooks, PowerPoint presentations, and other resources. Author: University of Wisconsin - Extension Type: Websites & Online Tools Date: Jan 18, 2008
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Evaluation Needs Assessment The Evaluation Needs Assessment was created for use with a grantee cohort of twelve organizations, which received grant support and capacity building services for a period of three years.Directions: Share the tool in advance of an in-person meeting to allow for preparation. Meet to discuss an organization’s existing evaluation practice and goals for improvement. Seek mutual agreement of the evaluation capacity provider and grantee regarding how to apply evaluation technical assistance.Author: Johanna Morariu Type: Tipsheets & Paper Tools Date: Apr 25, 2011 Be the first to review this resource! Download (215.84 KB) -
Evaluation of Nine Non-Governmental Human Rights Organisations This evaluation report examines nine organizations working in the international human rights field with support from the Dutch government. It is one sub-study of a larger evaluation of Dutch human rights policy. The sub-study used a custom evaluation framework, consisting of a general section and sections on international advocacy work, publications and information, and specific program activities. The report concludes that all nine organizations have been largely successful, but that there is still room for improvement, "especially in the field of monitoring and evaluation practice Author: Landman, Todd and Abraham, Meghna Type: Research & Reports Date: Feb 1, 2004 Be the first to review this resource! Download (666.96 KB) -
Evaluation Plan Workbook (.pdf) Innovation Network's own workbook on evaluation planning. Can be used alone or in conjunction with the Evaluation Plan Builder at the Point K Learning Center. Author: Innovation Network, Inc. Type: Workbooks & Guides Date: May 14, 2005 Point K Pick
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Evaluation Principles and Practices: An Internal Working Paper The purpose of this document is to advance the Foundation’s existing work so that our evaluation practices become more consistent across the organization. We hope to create more common understanding of our philosophy, purpose, and expectations regarding evaluation as well as clarify staff roles and available support. With more consistency and shared understanding, we expect less wheel re-creation across program areas, greater learning from each other’s efforts, and faster progress in designing meaningful evaluations and applying the results.
Author: Fay Twersky & Karen Lindblom Type: Research & Reports Date: Jan 22, 2013 Be the first to review this resource! Download (1.42 MB) -
Evaluation Research The evaluation research section of Cornell University’s "Research Methods Knowledge Base", a comprehensive web-based textbook that addresses many topics in social research method Author: Trochim, William M.K. Type: Websites & Online Tools Date: Oct 20, 2006 Be the first to review this resource! Web Link -
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) -
Evaluation to Support Strategic Learning: Principles and Practices Evaluation that supports strategic learning is an area that the Center for Evaluation Innovation is helping to develop and grow. Working with organizations and groups to integrate evaluative thinking into their strategic decision making and bring timely data to the table for reflection and use has tremendous potential as an approach to evaluation, particularly for complex and dynamic social change strategies.
Author: Julia Coffman & Tanya Beer Type: Research & Reports Date: Jun 1, 2011 Point K Pick Be the first to review this resource! Download (106.64 KB) -
Focus Group Handbook This handbook provides information on the structure of focus groups. Author: U.S. Army Family Advocacy Program Type: Workbooks & Guides Date: May 16, 1996 Be the first to review this resource! Web Link -
Focus Groups A guide to focus groups developed by the New York State Teacher Resource & Computer Training Centers. Author: New York State Teacher Centers Type: Workbooks & Guides Date: Jan 1, 2004 Be the first to review this resource! Web Link -
Free Resources for Program Evaluation and Social Research Methods This page lists FREE resources for program evaluation and social research methods. The focus is on "how-to" do evaluation research and the methods used: surveys, focus groups, sampling, interviews, and other methods. Most of these links are to resources that can be read over the web. A few, like the GAO books, are for books that can be sent away for, for free (if you live in the US), as well as read over the web. Author: Gene Shackman Type: Websites & Online Tools Date: Nov 22, 2007 Be the first to review this resource! Web Link -
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) -
From Insight to Action: New Directions in Foundation Evaluation This report highlights emerging approaches to evaluation in the field of philanthropy that increase the effectiveness of both foundations and their grantees. Author: FSG Social Impact Advisors Type: Research & Reports Date: Apr 1, 2007 Be the first to review this resource! Download (3.67 MB) -
From the War on Poverty to an Economy that Works for All This publication about the effort to reframe the "war on poverty" to "low wage work" offers an example of an advocacy campaign that monitored and evaluated its own activities. One of the lessons learned from the advocacy effort specifically is in regard to monitoring and evaluating: "Advocates and activists must be flexible and open-minded about evaluating the degree to which an approach is working or not working, if any change is to be made." Author: Shulman, Sarah Type: Research & Reports Date: Mar 1, 2006 Be the first to review this resource! Download (543.15 KB) -
Fundraising 123 Network for Good launched Fundraising123.org in December, 2007. This free collection of online resources describes itself as "A Fundraising Guide for the Overwhelmed, Overworked Nonprofit." Author: Network for Good Type: Websites & Online Tools Date: Dec 1, 2007 Be the first to review this resource! Web Link -
Gender and Poverty Project: Gender Analysis Tools Gender Analysis is a tool for examining the differences between the roles that women and men play, the different levels of power they hold, their differing needs, constraints and opportunities, and the impact of these differences on their lives.
This three-part Gender Analysis toolkit contains the following sections:
- Definitions
- Part I: The Basics
- Part II: Taking Steps to Do Gender Analysis in Our Communities
- Part III: Gender Analysis Tools
Author: Toby Goldberg Leong, Catherine Lang, and Marina Biasutti Type: Workbooks & Guides Date: Jan 1, 2005 Be the first to review this resource! Download (484.32 KB) -
General Guidelines for Conducting Interviews Carter McNamara's guidelines for conducting interviews, part of his Free Management Library and drawn from his book Field Guide to Consulting and Organizational Development. Author: McNamara, Carter Type: Websites & Online Tools Date: May 1, 2006 Be the first to review this resource! Web Link