Browse capacity building Resources
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Guidelines for Evaluating Non-Profit Communications Efforts The Communications Consortium Media Center has been engaged in its Media Evaluation Project since 2002, providing a review of current communications evaluation in the nonprofit world and the social science of communications strategies. The project produced four working papers by experts from the Berkeley Media Studies Group, Harvard Family Research Project and Michigan State University. These papers served as the research base for "Guidelines for Evaluating Non-Profit Communications Efforts." This working paper summarizes the project's findings and offers guidelines for the eva Author: Communications Consortium Media Center Type: Research & Reports Date: Apr 1, 2004 Be the first to review this resource! Download (113.86 KB) -
Handbook Of Data Collection Tools: Companion To “A Guide To Measuring Advocacy And Policy” This handbook of tools is a companion to ORS' "A Guide To Measuring Advocacy and Policy" (q.v.) The data collection tools included in the handbook have been used in real-world evaluation efforts, and are applicable to six outcomes areas:
- Shifts in Social Norms
- Strengthened Organizational Capacity
- Strengthened Alliances
- Strengthened Base of Support
- Improved Policies; and
- Changes in Impact.
Author: Reisman, Jane et al. Type: Workbooks & Guides Date: Apr 30, 2007
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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) -
How Charities Learn from Evaluating Themselves, and Tips for Measuring Results This article examines evaluation as a way for nonprofits to gain knowledge and deliver their services more effectively. Author: Roth, Kimberlee Type: Opinion (blog, editorial) Date: Jun 1, 2003
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IdeaEncore.com Knowledge sharing, made simple. Since you're reading this, you are obviously aware of Point K's free online resources. IdeaEncore takes a similar knowledge sharing concept and runs with it. Its goal is "nothing short of worldwide, sector-wide sharing of all kinds and types of nonprofit information, knowledge, activities and ideas."
Author: IdeaEncore Network Type: Websites & Online Tools Date: Jul 19, 2010 Point K Pick Be the first to review this resource! Web Link -
Idealware.org The Idealware website is a treasure trove of time-saving reviews, tips, and research. Idealware publishes unbiased reviews of software for nonprofits. Experts from all over the nonprofit technology community contribute the benefit of their experience through articles and blog posts. If you're trying to compare software packages, this is an excellent place to start--they might have already done the research for you.
Author: Quinn, Laura S. et al. Type: Websites & Online Tools Date: Apr 4, 2008 Point K Pick Be the first to review this resource! Web Link -
Identify an Issue's Life Cycle Stage and the Next Steps for Advocates This one-page tool outlines six stages of an issue's development. For each stage of issue development, the tool offers characteristics of the issue, general next steps to take, and specific actions to support those next steps. Author: Advocacy Institute Type: Tipsheets & Paper Tools Date: Sep 10, 2004 Be the first to review this resource! Download (63.37 KB) -
Identify an Organization’s Life Cycle Stage and the Next Steps for Advocates This one-page tool describes six stages of organizational development and offers suggestions for actions advocates should consider at each stage. Author: Advocacy Institute Type: Tipsheets & Paper Tools Date: Sep 10, 2004 Be the first to review this resource! Download (110.5 KB) -
ILAC Brief 16: "Contribution analysis: An approach to exploring cause and effect" In this brief from Biodiversity International's Institutional Learning and Change Initiative (ILAC), John Mayne discusses the steps involved in contribution analysis (including the development of a theory of change), an evaluation approach that may be useful when others are not practical. More specifically, Mayne provides an example of an evaluation capacity building project for agricultural research organizations. Author: Mayne, John Type: Newsletters & Periodicals Date: May 1, 2008 Be the first to review this resource! Download (129.56 KB) -
Immunization Advocacy Goals Civil society has now rallied around a new Immunization Advocacy Goals framework, presenting a menu of advocacy options to improve access to vaccines around the world.
The framework’s five goals unite civil society – from implementers in Afghanistan, to research and development advocates in Australia – under shared goals that provide an intellectual underpinning for local, regional, and global advocacy on immunizations.Author: GAVI Alliance Civil Society Constituency Type: Workbooks & Guides Date: Dec 1, 2012
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Impact Evaluation in Practice This book provides an overview of impact evaluation from the perspective of the Wold Bank.
Author: Paul J. Gertler, Sebastian Martinez, Patrick Premand, Laura B. Rawlings, Christel M. J. Vermeersch Type: Workbooks & Guides Date: Jan 1, 2011 Be the first to review this resource! Download (3.06 MB) -
Indicators for Programming in Human Rights and Democratic Development: A Preliminary Study This paper is the result of a preliminary study on using indicators to track progress in human rights and democratic development efforts. The paper briefly outlines the experience of development organizations in measuring results in political development. It then examines some of the methodological issues relating to performance indicators, generally, and human rights and democratic development programming indicators, in particular. Author: Kapoor, Ilan Type: Research & Reports Date: Jul 1, 1996 Be the first to review this resource! Download (112.62 KB) -
Innovation for Successful Societies "Country Experiences Case Studies" The ISS Country Experiences case series chronicles reformers' efforts to gather support for reform and build institutions in a wide array of contexts. Cases start with a problem and a decision maker, then explore the options considered, implementation challenges, mid-course corrections, and results. The cases rest on interviews with reform leaders, advisers, and critics or monitors.
Case studies include a diverse number of policy focus areas including
Author: Princeton University Type: Research & Reports Date: Jan 1, 2010 Be the first to review this resource! Web Link -
Integrating Evaluative Capacity Into Organizational Practice: A Guide for Nonprofit & Philanthropic Organizations & Their Stakeh This publication, Integrating Evaluative Capacity into Organizational Practice, was developed in response to the continuing need expressed by nonprofit trainees to further assess and operationalize evaluative thinking. It extends information first provided in 2006 in a series of short, electronic articles called Evaluative Thinking Bulletins. The guidebook is intended to
answer the following questions:Author: Anita Baker and Beth Bruner Type: Workbooks & Guides Date: Jun 1, 2012 Be the first to review this resource! Download (1.87 MB) -
Intense Period Debrief Protocol The Intense Period Debrief is a data collection instrument for advocacy campaigns. It was developed in connection with Innovation Network's work with the Coalition for Comprehensive Immigration Reform to capture the intense activity surrounding a policy window. This instrument complements other methodologies, filling gaps in information-gathering that can occur with other types of data collection instruments. Author: Innovation Network, Inc. Type: Tipsheets & Paper Tools Date: Feb 1, 2007 Be the first to review this resource! Download (136.31 KB) -
Internal vs. External Evaluation Few resources exist that thoroughly and accurately describe when to choose an internal and/or an external evaluator to conduct an evaluation. This one-page resource provides a helpful, concise comparison between internal and external evaluators
Author: UNICEF Type: Tipsheets & Paper Tools Date: May 3, 2005 Point K Pick Be the first to review this resource! Web Link -
International Advocacy: Measuring performance and effectiveness This paper examines the assessment of two NGOs working in international advocacy and policy change: Oxfam Community Aid Abroad and the Foundation for Development Cooperation. The study suggests that organizations can use best practices and outcomes assessment to track the effectiveness of their advocacy work. Author: Kelly, Linda Type: Research & Reports Date: Oct 30, 2002 Be the first to review this resource! Download (216.18 KB) -
Intro to Logic Models A simple but informative introduction to Logic Models. What ithey are, why they are used, and how to build them. Author: Eric Graig Type: Presentation Slides Date: Dec 31, 2006 Be the first to review this resource! Web Link -
Introducing Program Logic Models A six-page summary of logic model concepts prepared by the Kellogg Foundation. Author: W.K. Kellogg Foundation Type: Workbooks & Guides Date: Mar 17, 2001
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Journal of MultiDisciplinary Evaluation The Evaluation Center, Western Michigan University, journal for news and thinking of the profession and discipline of evaluation in the world, for the world. Author: Michael Schriven (Ed.), E. Jane Davidson (Ed.), Chris L.S. Coryn (Ed.) Type: Research & Reports Date: May 28, 2008 Be the first to review this resource! Web Link -
Key Questions for Developing Your Objectives Advocacy Institute offers four questions that advocates or organizations should ask themselves before developing strategic objectives:
- Who are we?
- What is the problem?
- What is our vision of change?
- What objectives--or piece of our vision--are we focusing on?
Author: Advocacy Institute Type: Websites & Online Tools Date: Jan 1, 2004 Be the first to review this resource! Web Link -
Keystone's Feedback App This free and easy web-based tool from Keystone Accountability is a simple way of getting anonymous feedback from your partners on what they really think about your work. The application starts by asking you to choose from a standard list of questions, such as "How strongly would you recommend [your organization] to a colleague or friend?" Answers are on a scale of 1 to 10 or open-ended. You can also add questions. Next, you provide a list of respondents to receive the short survey. Keystone keeps data anonymous and confidential. Author: Keystone Accountability Type: Websites & Online Tools Date: Oct 31, 2009 Point K Pick Be the first to review this resource! Web Link -
Leap of Reason Leap of Reason is the product of decades of management insights from philanthropist Mario Morino, McKinsey & Company, and more than a dozen experts and practitioners. With more than 40,000 copies in circulation, the book is helping nonprofit and public-sector leaders achieve more for those they serve, even in the midst of this era of scarcity.
Author: Mario Morino Type: Research & Reports Date: Jan 1, 2011
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Learn Foundation Law The legal staff at the Packard Foundation, Gates Foundation, Hewlett Foundation and Moore Foundation developed this free, first-of-its-kind resource, which covers the basic legal rules around what staff are allowed to fund and engage in at a private foundation. It takes less than an hour to complete and features “Maya,” a new program officer that leads participants through the course. Participants can also return to the training at any time for a refresher and click on the individual modules to refer back to specific topics.
Author: Legal staff at the Packard Foundation, Gates Foundation, Hewlett Foundation, and Moore Foundation Type: Websites & Online Tools Date: Jan 1, 2010 Be the first to review this resource! Web Link