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Preparing for Evaluation
Identify Goals for Evaluation
There is no “one size fits all” when it comes to conducting a good evaluation.
However, it’s important that you focus your evaluation by considering its purpose, what you really want to know, and what you plan to do with the information. Consider ways that you hope the findings will be used both internally and by partners and key stakeholders.
Evaluations serve many purposes, but they generally fall into categories like:
- Making a judgment about a program
- Improving the program
- Informing decisions or planning of future programming or investment of resources
Several factors may affect your approach and decisions, like funding, legal and organizational requirements, and policies. Reviewing the steps of planning your evaluation and developing your evaluation plan can help you clarify your goals better.
For more information about uses and purposes of evaluation,
download the Identifying Evaluation Purpose and Questions worksheet.
Build the Evaluation Team
Program evaluation is a diverse practice with different interests, training, experiences, and perspectives.
You want to ensure that your evaluation team members have the skills, expertise, and resources to carry out your evaluation. You may decide to hire an external evaluation consultant, internal evaluation staff, or a combination of the two. Developing a strong working relationship between program staff and the evaluators will help the evaluation stay on track and be responsive to the needs of the program.
To assemble a team that matches your need and capacity best, consider the following:
- Cost and availability of resources or capabilities within your organization
- Existing evaluation capacity, training, or lessons learned
- Knowledge, understanding, and experience related to your program, community, and population of focus
- Access to data including any confidentiality and privacy issues
- Alignment of the evaluation with the programmatic goals and activities
- Enough space and time are allocated for the evaluation
- Funding requirements
- Evaluators’ training, approach, and paradigm related to evaluation
For tips and tools to build and manage an evaluation team, download the Building and Managing Your Evaluation Team worksheet.
Resource Considerations
The cost of an evaluation varies widely.
Cost depends on the type of evaluation you conduct and methodology you employ. Program evaluation comes in different sizes, shapes, and scopes. There are many different evaluation methods and sometimes evaluation activities can be integrated into program planning and implementation. Even if you feel there are minimal resources to be allocated to evaluation, it doesn’t mean you cannot conduct an evaluation. You can start small and scale up as you’re able.
There are several free and low-cost resources to help support your efforts. At every step of the evaluation, consider the feasibility standard. Leverage existing resources within and outside your organization.
Several factors may affect your approach and decisions, like funding, legal and organizational requirements, and policies. Reviewing the steps of planning your evaluation and developing your evaluation plan can help you clarify your goals better.
For cost considerations at each step of the evaluation process, download the Evaluation Resource Considerations tip sheet.
Building Your Evaluation Plan
An evaluation plan can help you communicate, monitor, and adjust the evaluation.
You can use the evaluation plan template and workbook to develop an initial draft of the plan, but it is helpful for the evaluation team to revisit the plan often to make any updates or revisions as needed. An evaluation plan can help you:
- Stay organized
- Use financial and staff resources wisely
- Maintain accountability
- Keep team members and stakeholders informed
OR download a Blank Evaluation Plan Template
