Program Evaluation: What Do You Do and Why Does It Matter?

In the governance sector, the coin of the realm is in lives transformed, economies built, ecosystems renewed, and culture shared. These works make our nation and our economy stronger, but what is the return on investment? An independent program evaluation provides empirical evidence of a program’s achievements.

Program evaluations can provide a knowledge base for the larger community, basis for philanthropic partnerships, and lead public policy decisions.

Issue Area Measurements

• How great is the need for your program?
• How large is your constituent population nationwide, statewide and in your service area?
• What percentage of your clients faces any given issue?

Program Impact

• How does your program’s capacity compare with its’ goals?
• What percentage of your constituent group does your program serve?
• What are the long- and short-term effects of your program?

Systemic Analysis

• How much money does your program save the public?
• How can your agency improve process flow?
• What specific changes to public policy would be beneficial?

In conjunction with program evaluation, process efficiency, grant compliance, and strategic planning studies are useful:

Process Design: Work Smarter, Not Harder

Our process design services give organizations a framework from which to expand capacity without expanding workload. We build ease of work and grant accountability into the process.

Donors and boards need to be able to confirm the wise use of resources. Further, when an organization has clear metrics to demonstrate work-flow, it can immediately communicate changes in constituent need. Feedback from the frontline of services and is the crux of many philanthropic and collaborative partnerships.

Process design changes can generate greater productivity without generating greater work.

• Improve ease of work tasks, computer systems, and supply chain decisions.
• Ensure that services are sensitive to changes in constituent need.
• Increase employee and volunteer satisfaction.

Grant Contract Compliance: Keep That Money Coming

Foundations and agencies, for their own missions, need to ensure that their monies are acting as intended. Programs need to demonstrate that they are making a good faith effort to pursue stated goals. All things remaining the same, the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior.

Use sound management principals to plan work that ensures that the terms of the contract are being faithfully carried out.

• Identify obligations created in the contract.
• Create a plan of action in good faith with the agreement.
• Report to granting foundations and agencies.

Strategic Planning: Be Ready to Respond

• Keep the organization and services focused on changing constituent needs.
• Foster leadership in the community and within the organization.
• Set goals for the future of the program and the organization.

Contact Seaborn Consulting for a customized program evaluation package for your organization.