Evaluation

We've included many resources here to help nonprofits with their evaluation needs.  

Overview of Evaluation

• Evaluation and Measurement of Outcomes- article by the National Council of Nonprofits
• Types of Evaluation- Chart by the Center for Disease Control

Program Evaluation

• Evaluating the Initiative - toolkit with examples by Community Tool Box
• Nonprofit Performance Management: Using Data to Measure and Improve Programs - report with case studies by Idealware, August 2014
• Basic Guide to Program Evaluation - information, guidelines and templates by Free Management Library
• 2010 User Friendly Handbook for Project Evaluation - covers the value of evaluation and how to design and carry out an evaluation by the National Science Foundation
• Effective Nonprofit Evaluation: Through a "Community of Learners" - briefing paper on evaluation design and implementation by Chantell Johnson and Allison Crean
• Program Development and Evaluation - templates and examples from the University of Wisconsin
• A Practical Guide for Engaging Stakeholders in Developing Evaluation Questions - assists evaluators and clients to increase the value and usefulness of evaluation by H. Preskill and N. Jones, Robert Wood Johnson 
• The ABCs of Evaluation: Timeless Techniques for Program and Project Managers - book by John Boulmetis and Phyllis Dutwin ($)
• Trying Hard is Not Good Enough, How to Produce Measurable Improvements for Customers and Communities - book about Results Based Accountability by Mark Friedman ($)
• Performance Management in Complex, Place-Based Work article by Patricia Auspos, Anne C. Kubisch, The Aspen Institute

   

Impact Evaluation

• Introducing the Impact Genome Project - article by Jason Saul and Matt Groch, Stanford Social Innovation Review, April 9, 2014
• Measuring Impact Isn't for Everyone - article by Mary Kay Gugerty and Dean Karlan, Stanford Social Innovation Review, April 2, 2014

Collective Impact Evaluation

• Guide to Evaluating Collective Impact - three part guide with case studies and sample questions, outcomes and indicators by Hallie Preskill, Marcie Parkhurst, and Jennifer Splansky Juster, Collective Impact Forum, 2014
• Evaluating Collective Impact: Five Simple Rules - article by Mark Cabaj, The Philanthropist, Volume 26, 1, 2014
• Framing Paper: The State of Network Evaluation - two part guide to network evaluation by Network Impact and Center for Evlauation Innovation, July 2014

Logic Models

• Logic Model Development Guide by W.K.Kellogg Foundation
• Logic Model Workbook by Innovation Network

Charts

• PERT - introduction to PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique) technique by NetMBAs

  How to Create a PERT Chart in Office 2007 - by eHow

  How to Create a Gantt Chart in Excel by Smartsheet

Program Evaluation Software

• Understanding Software for Program Evaluation - paper with overviews of the types of software that can assist with a technology-based program evaluation strategy by Elizabeth Pope, Laura Quinn, Chris Bernard, Kyle Henri Andrei, and Tyler Cummins, Idealware

Websites