Logic Models & Measuring What Matters
Are you starting a new program? New to evaluation? Join us to create or improve an existing logic model that will guide how you evaluate your program.
Learning Objectives
- Identify barriers to conducting effective internal evaluations.
- Revise or create a logic model that captures the essence of your organization.
- Develop rubrics to measure essential--yet hard to quantify--outputs and outcomes.
Description
This 2-hour workshop will support participants in developing evaluation tools that are participatory, embedded, and that measure what really matters. Participants will learn to avoid common pitfalls in conducting effective internal evaluations. They will create new (or improve on existing) logic models and rubrics.
The logic model is a one-page description of a program or organization that addresses assumptions, external factors, resources, activities, outputs and outcome. The logic model provides a map for evaluation activities. Participants will also develop rubrics that describe different levels of performance, for the purpose of measuring outputs and outcomes that are essential to an organization, but cannot be easily quantified. A follow-up workshop will provide training on developing data collection tools.
Level
Introductory
Audience
Executive directors, operations managers, and program managers
Presenter
Melissa Binder, Ph.D., is Director of the UNM Master of Public Policy and Associate Director of the UNM Evaluation Lab, which she helped create in 2015. The Evaluation Lab has worked with dozens of New Mexico nonprofits since then to build effective and sustainable evaluation systems that are inclusive, embedded, and that measure what really matters. The Evaluation Lab has two programs: a student fellowship that partners graduate students with nonprofits looking for hands-on support, and an annual Summer Institute that trains nonprofits in building internal evaluation capacity. Melissa is also a faculty member in the UNM Economics Department.
Guiding Practices for Nonprofits
- Nonprofits should establish expected outcomes based on a Theory of Change and use evaluation to measure the extent to which they are achieving those outcomes.
- Nonprofits should utilize the appropriate evaluation methods for their work based on their programming, service provision and capacity.
- Nonprofits should develop a plan that includes dedicated employee time and resources for evaluation, including data collection. Employee capacity to conduct evaluations is essential to the success and sustainability of the process.
- Nonprofits should include Board members, employees and constituents throughout the evaluation process to inform development, implementation and interpretation of results, reporting and adaptation of programs.
- Nonprofits should use evaluation methods and collect data in ways that are culturally respectful and accessible to participants.
- Nonprofits should determine which evaluation methods to use based on well-defined program goals and performance indicators.
- Nonprofits should define program goals that are realistic and appropriate to the organization’s mission and size (budget, staff capacity).
- Nonprofits should define performance indicators that measure outputs, outcomes, impact and satisfaction with programs and services.
- Nonprofits should systematically collect qualitative and quantitative data in ways and over periods of time that are manageable for the organization.
- Nonprofits should use evaluation results to gauge organizational effectiveness, make improvements to programs, guide internal operations and governance activities, and to inform strategic and annual work plans.
The Guide is available as a free digital download at CNPENM.org/Guide. Hard copies of the Guide and Companion Workbook will be available for purchase at this training for $25 each with a credit card or check.
The Center for Nonprofit Excellence often takes photos during our trainings to share on social media. If you prefer not to be photographed, please let us know in the Special Needs field when you register.
2340 Alamo Ave SE, 2nd Floor
Albuquerque, NM 87106-87106
United States
| Registration | $35.00 |