Program Evaluation: Burden or Benefit?

More and more foundations expect to see an evaluation component in the programs they fund. In a time of limited resources, we have also seen that individual donors increasingly view their gifts as social “investments” and expect a social “return.” However, program evaluations need not be costly, empirical studies conducted by outside evaluators. In fact, many nonprofits already have the tools to conduct their own evaluations and can gather and analyze the data that will help them to evaluate their work, broadcast their success, and leverage more resources to achieve their strategic goals. One tool that we use, adapted from one developed by Fiscal Management Associates, helps nonprofits to weigh the relative impact of their programs: Plan A Program Portfolio Analysis