Program Evaluation
A non-profit organization's methods of delivering their services to the community and the funding sources that underwrite these programs change and grow. Accountability regarding the quality of service delivery is more and more important to funding sources. To win grants and sustain donors, organizations that are more successful offer high quality programs that meet the needs in the community. Program evaluation offers proof to funding sources that a non-profit organization is meeting those needs.
Logic Model - A model to document the following aspects of a program:
- inputs - the resources needed to implement the program
- activities - the specific processes of a program
- outputs - the number of people served or other measurements of service
- outcome - the change that the program creates
Focus Groups - A means of information gathering in a multi-person setting either through in-depth questioning about specific perceptions and concerns or through an open-ended discussion of a range of issues
Survey Research - Collecting information about clients in order to draw conclusions about the outcomes of intervention
Outcome Studies - Documenting how a program creates change in the lives of its clients in terms of knowledge-base, behavior, and attitude
Process Research - Using data to clarify and reach agreement on a program's intentions in order to design more effective interventions
Statistical Analysis - Classifying and tabulating numerical data so as to present information about a given subject
Qualitative Methods - Collecting data that is not easily measured, that requires drawing meanings from (rather than counting) what is observed, through means such as site-observation, participant and service provider reports, and open-ended questions in a survey. The findings are reported in descriptions or narratives and are often used to give quantitative data enriched context.
Quantitative Methods - Collecting data that can be counted and measured. The results are reported in mathematical tables and may be used to report specific facts, such as the number of clients of a certain demographic group who reported a meeting a measurable success indicator
Key Informant Interviews - Gathering information from people who are particularly knowledgeable about an issue. This method is often used to uncover donors for a capital campaign in order to develop new programs.
Community Needs Assessment - A process of identifying the needs and finding the assets of the community which involves the members of that community in the process. The community is engaged and facilitated in key tasks such as locating hidden strengths, determining resources that could contribute to successful intervention, and designing effective, collaborative strategies. This process not only greatly improves the likelihood that the programs designed will be effective, but is an indicator to potential donors that the needs identified by the non-profit organization are of relevance and importance to the community.
