Program Evaluation: Donors Take a Front Seat

1. What importance does evaluation play in an organization’s program?

Assessments can reveal an organization’s strengths and weakness in its design; meanwhile, they can result in outcomes that may or may not be favorable to those involved:  staff, volunteers, boards, directors, and most importantly, the donors.   The evaluation process is a strong element in the success or failure of an organization’s mission and its goals.  Selecting the appropriate evaluation for a program can be a complicated task for organizations and those involved in the decision-making process. 

2. Why should donors take part in the evaluation process?

Given the decrease in funding to organizations; donors, however, are increasingly much more interested in learning how their monies are being used and to what extent.  Donors want to know if the organization is living up to their promise in fulfilling their program mission.  Evaluations deliver that vital information concerning the accountability of an organization’s goals.  

3. How do donors fit into the evaluation process?

With specific attention to their ideals, donors are finding a more necessary role in the ways they can participate in the program assessment process.  This inclusive process can build knowledge within the organization resulting in enhanced decision making and stronger relationships for all participants. However, donors reveal different priorities than other organization members in the way they understand and respond to program evaluation.

• Some are concerned with assessment and the process utilized.
• Some are enthusiastic in using evaluation as a learning tool.
• Some see accountability outcomes as central to their mission.

 4. To what extent can donors participate in the organization’s evaluation?

In each organization and for each project, donor involvement in the program evaluation process varies greatly.  The key lies in the goals of each donor, the degree of involvement they choose to adopt, and the approach they take in the evaluation process.  This participatory approach is highly appealing for donors who are especially invested in community organizations and neighborhood projects. Donors understand that it takes a strong community to help in creating and implementing desired programming.  

In a collaborative evaluation, donors will participate substantially in the identification of the assessment issues, the evaluation design, the data collection and analysis, and the action taken as a result of the evaluation findings.  The benefits of donor participatory in program evaluation reveal a sense of proud satisfaction for the organization.

5. What are the benefits when donors get involved?

This collaborative setting helps ensure grantees will meet local needs, have a strong local backing and outreach, and develop those necessary skills and experiences in the community.  Neighborhood donors want to be involved in decisions about how programs are assessed so that the evaluations are fair, useful, and accurate.  However, depending on the program and its organization, donors have their limitations as well as strengths in the scope of participation and involvement in the evaluation process.  Participatory evaluations may not be the answer for every situation; instead, donors may find other techniques to partake in the process.

6. What can donors get out of the evaluation process?

Most foundations apply a “logic model” to evaluations that produce measurable outcomes with an emphasis on accountability.  Using an objective party, they seek baseline data, indicators, and data sources to measure program performance.  Most donors see their main obligation as ensuring their funds are used as effectively as possible, and most grantees want ongoing feedback so they can keep improving their work, updating their plans and demonstrating their impact.  In addition, donors want to improve their own practices.  They therefore want direct and prompt feedback so they can keep improving their performance as donors.

7. Can grantees and donors work well together?

Yes, participatory evaluations can create a strong rapport among grantees and donors.  It creates at least some level of dialogue about the evaluation.  This greater collaboration helps evaluators gain access to the information they need.  Evaluation in a collaborative setting often leads to agreement between donors and grantees on how they can work together to strengthen their program.