Working with nonprofit organizations that are just starting—or ramping up—their evaluation process is one of the best parts of this job. A little evaluation goes a long way for these organizations. People are excited to get started and see the results. When 12 people sit around a boardroom table, they bring 12 slightly different ideas
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Demystifying Theory of Change
Recently I wrote a free e-Study about theory of change for the Hubert Project at the Humphrey Institute (University of Minnesota). Theory of Change is one of those terms that can elicit groans from nonprofit practitioners. Who has time to think about theories? And the word “change” makes people sweat a little. But, every organization I’ve worked with
Read more »Asking About Improvement: Survey Tips
Above all else, nonprofits want their evaluation efforts to “strengthen their future work.” I know from my experience helping nonprofits develop and use an evaluative lens that most value their stakeholders’ feedback as a crucial part of achieving this goal. Yet they tend to make one critical mistake. They ask on a survey, “What could
Read more »Boards Assessments: Kicking them up a notch!
Below is the chapter “New Practices for Board Assessments” I wrote for the book “YOU and Your Nonprofit Board: Advice and Practical Tips from the Field’s Top Practitioners, Researchers, and Provocateurs.” This book is part of the “In the Trenches” series published by CharityChannel Press and lovingly edited by Terrie Temkin, PhD. Enjoy! New Practices
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