Nonprofits are under constant pressure to prove they’re making a difference — to funders, boards, communities, and themselves. But “proving impact” isn’t one task; it’s a vocabulary of interconnected concepts, and knowing that vocabulary is often the difference between a program that just runs and one that demonstrably works. Below is a practical guide to […]
Key Evaluation Terms Every Nonprofit Should Know Read More »
What foundations really look for in evaluation partners and how to build lasting relationships During our April 2026 Gathering Space, Pedro Paz of Responsive Evaluation Services shared his experience building strong foundation-evaluator partnerships, building on his experience both as a funder (at First 5 Santa Barbara County, the Santa Barbara Foundation, and the Santa Barbara
Building Strong Funder-Evaluation Partnerships from Both Sides of the Table Read More »
When measuring impact becomes a reflection of who you are—not just what funders require Let’s be honest: for many nonprofit professionals, the word “evaluation” triggers thoughts of compliance reports, funder demands, and hours spent wrestling with spreadsheets. It feels like something done to the organization rather than for it.But what if we’ve been looking at
The ‘Why’ Behind Evaluation: Connecting Data to Mission Read More »
If you run a nonprofit, you’ve probably asked yourself at some point: “Is what we’re doing actually working?” It’s an honest question and a brave one. Program evaluation is the structured process that helps you answer it with confidence rather than guesswork.Yet for many organizations, the words “program evaluation” trigger anxiety. It sounds expensive. It
What Is Program Evaluation, Really? Read More »
IntroductionIn an era of increasing accountability and competition for resources, nonprofit organizations face mounting pressure to demonstrate their value and impact. Program evaluation has emerged as what researchers describe as a “cornerstone” of nonprofit effectiveness, accountability, and sustainability (Kazanskaia, 2025). Far from being merely an administrative exercise, evaluation serves as a strategic tool that strengthens
The Critical Role of Program Evaluation in Nonprofit Success Read More »
