3 Survey Pitfalls to Avoid
Surveys are popular for gaining feedback on a program or service. With a survey, you can typically gather and analyze data quickly, relative to focus groups and interviews. Plus, developing and administering a survey can often be more cost-efficient for the budget-conscious evaluator.
Mission Drifting or Mission Driven?
We live in a world in which nonprofit funding often feels limited. And when we operate with a scarcity mindset, we can sometimes make decisions that can negatively impact our organizations now and in the future. Here’s how I have seen this play out.
Red Flags in Your Data: What They’re Trying to Tell You
Wait, what was the original question? Pen and highlighters in hand, I looked again at the responses on the spreadsheet. Half of them had nothing to do with the question we had asked on the survey.
Assessment vs. Evaluation
Assessment and evaluation are two words I hear frequently in my line of work. Sometimes they’re used interchangeably. Yet assessment and evaluation are related yet distinct processes.
What are Evaluation Questions?
When designing a program evaluation strategy, one of the earliest steps in the process is to develop evaluation questions. But what are evaluation questions, and how can they help us?
Evaluation as Stewardship
Our motivation to engage in program evaluation can wane because it can feel so laborious, even overwhelming. What if thinking about evaluation through a different lens could give us a greater sense of purpose?
Why Program Evaluation Matters
It’s tempting to leave program evaluation to the end of the year, right before you have to deliver your annual report. But we recommend designing your evaluation strategy early in the life of your program. Here’s why…
What Is Program Evaluation?
One way to reduce your load going into annual report season is to develop and implement a program evaluation strategy that will ensure that you have the information you need to complete your report in a timely manner.