Foundation evaluation used to be about assessing past grants to ensure the projects achieved what was promised. Some types of grantmaking, such as building nonprofit capacity, creating partnerships and collaborations, and funding social entrepreneurs, demand different kinds of evaluation. These approaches focus on discovering information that will enable both Piper Trust and our grantees to improve future performance.
The evaluation process involves all staff—program, evaluation, communication, finance and grants management, and focuses on grantees taking the lead. This work affects three stages of the grantmaking process.
Planning
How can we improve our program planning? Piper Trust may identify relevant existing research, gather baseline data or assess the demand for a proposed service, and then define with the nonprofit partners realistic objectives.
Implementation
How can we improve our implementation? Piper Trust may convene grantees to tackle common issues, provide technical assistance and advice, or communicate information more broadly to important audiences to set the stage for an initiative.
Tracking Progress
How can we better track our progress? Piper Trust may administer surveys, conduct site visits, interviews and focus groups, or aggregate data from multiple grantees.
Resources
“Measuring Impacts: An Introduction to Evaluation” by Wayne Parker, Ph.D., 2005
Resources for methods in evaluation and social research
The Global Social Change Research Project
Links to assessment and evaluation resources
Purdue University College of Education Assessment Council
The Evaluation Center
Western Michigan University
Evaluation Portal Link Collection