Category: Evaluation

Evaluation work within many community-based HIV/AIDS organizations is often not aligned to strategy, underfunded, and underused. FSG, a non-profit consulting firm, aruges that “the meaningfulness and usability of evaluation information has been limited because of its disconnection from strategic and organizational-level decision making. Even in the most well-intentioned organizations – with leaders who believe in evaluation’s ability… Read more »

YouthCo is a community-driven organization run by and for youth that seeks to engage, educate and empower young people living with or at-risk of HIV and Hep C. Claire O’Gorman, the Peer Education Programs Manager at YouthCo shared some words about a needs assessment they conducted to better inform the delivery of their programming. “Get… Read more »

Have you ever found yourself confused by inconsistent or overlapping terms in evaluation? Does one funder ask for an Outcomes Measurement Framework while another wants an Evaluation Plan?  What’s the difference between Outcomes and Impacts? To help navigate this terminology, Community Solutions has developed a handy Evaluation Glossary App that provides references to over 600 evaluation,… Read more »

The Canadian Evaluation Society is offering their annual Essential Skills Series in Evaluation in Vancouver. The Essential Skills Series consists of four inclusive days of foundational workshops (both of the 2 day workshops combined). The workshops have been designed by the Canadian Evaluation Society to enhance program evaluation skills and promote the professional practice of evaluation… Read more »

Case study evaluation can be a useful technique when there is a particularly unique or interesting story to be told about a program or service being assessed. Case studies are often used to bring other data alive, as they provide context and a more complete picture of what the program or service achieved and why…. Read more »

More than ever, the nonprofit sector is being asked to demonstrate that its services are making a positive difference and have value. However, many organizations do not collect or make use of regularly collected  feedback on service outcomes. Such information on outcomes can help program managers and board members to make informed decisions and constantly… Read more »

A User’s Guide to Advocacy Evaluation Planning was developed by the Harvard Family Research Project for advocates, evaluators, and funders who want guidance on how to evaluate advocacy and policy change efforts. This tool takes users through four basic steps that generate the core elements of an advocacy evaluation plan, including what will be measured and… Read more »

Are you looking to brush up on your qualitative interviewing skills? In this 20-minute webinar, qualitative expert Geri Peak will discuss strategies for in-person interviewing in one-on-one or group settings. She will share specific skills and techniques to clarify input, manage emotional responses and facilitate the conversation without leading, re-interpreting, shutting down or otherwise disrupting the… Read more »

Do you need to prepare a logic model for your program but don’t know where to start?  In this webinar offered by evaluator Kylie Hutchinson of Community Solutions, learn why a logic model is a critical tool for program planning and evaluation and how to develop one that is both simple, flexible, and useful. What… Read more »

Are you applying for funding for a new program?  Make your proposal more compelling by including a comprehensive needs assessment. Kylie Hutchinson, Principal Consultant of Community Solutions, is offering a webinar in which you will learn how to conduct a needs assessment that covers all the bases, provides a strong argument for support, and yield… Read more »

We’ve all heard the story: an innovative program was successful but had to stop because major or seed funding was discontinued. However, research in the area of program sustainability has shown that there are concrete steps you can take to increase the longevity of your programs. Learn what factors can increase the sustainability odds of your… Read more »