Frequently Asked Questions

Evaluation is a systematic method for collecting, analyzing, and using information to answer questions of effectiveness and efficiency for projects, policies, and programs. 

Evaluation can help answer big questions about how well your program is doing at meeting community needs, measuring the difference the program is making, and how much the program did. 

Download our free  "Guide to Program Evaluation" document to learn more about the program evaluation process.

Evaluating your nonprofit's efforts is important to being as effective as possible, for demonstrating the impact your program is making, and for using that data to secure resources and expand community partnerships. 

That depends on the scope of the program, but generally, we work closely with you to:

1. Develop a Logic Model (if one does not exist already). See "What is a logic model?" if this concept is unfamiliar to you.
2. Plan the evaluation
3. Design the survey and interview questions
4. Collect the data (administer surveys and hold group or individual interviews)
5. Analyze the data and draw conclusions
6. Prepare reports
7. Present findings to key personnel
8. And in most cases, advocate for your cause through numerous blogs, social media posts, academic publications, conference presentations, etc.

See our home page for the services we offer.

Read this sample article about how we would evaluate a reentry program. 

See our blog page for the many blogs we've written as outcomes from evaluation projects we conducted.

There are several benefits, which include making programs, services, and systems more effective and efficient, making sure programs are meeting the needs of the communities you serve, providing strategic guidance and data-driven decision-making, strengthening marketing efforts, and more. 

The greatest benefit, in our opinion, is that it supports the value of your organization with numbers and stories. You can tell a potential funder that you are making a positive impact in the community, but it is more compelling when you can provide solid evidence that you are improving lives.

Logic models are effective tools for program planning, implementation, management, evaluation, and reporting. They help define a program’s intended impact and goals; the sequence of intended effects; which activities are to produce which effect; and where to focus outcome and process evaluations. 

A logic model is a graphic illustration of the relationship between a program’s resources, activities, and its intended effects. Logic models clearly and concisely show how interventions affect behavior and achieve a goal. Specifically, a logic model is a visual way to illustrate the resources or inputs required to implement a program, the activities and outputs of a program, and the desired program outcomes (short-term, long-term). (see https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/prep-logic-model-ts_0.pdf) 

The cost of an evaluation depends on many factors: 

(1) The nature of the program

(2) Outcomes (what you want to learn), which determines how much data and what kind of data should be collected

(3) Evaluation Design – how many participants, the setting, the length of the study, how many locations, long-term vs. short-term impacts

(4) Data Collection and Analysis – how will the information be collected, whether that is through accessible administrative data, surveys (and if specialized surveys have to be designed for the project), interviews and how many/what type, etc. (this is where the bulk of the cost comes from 

(5) Misc. Expenses (consultant hourly fees, travel expenses, lodging, etc.) 

In most cases, evaluations range anywhere from 5-15% of program costs; some organizations charge 20% or more. Most organizations write grants to cover the cost of independent evaluations.

Depending on the length of the program evaluation, typically we bill 1/3 of the evaluation cost at the beginning of the evaluation, 1/3 in the middle, and 1/3 at the completion of the evaluation.

We are based in Orange County, California, and we work with organizations across the U.S. to conduct evaluations nationwide. We travel anywhere to collect the data that proves your program's effectiveness. You are making a difference, and we are dedicated to helping you show it.