Evaluative Thinking Archives - Nicole Clark Consulting

23 Aug, 2023

Stop Prioritizing “One Size Fits All” Solutions

By Nicole Clark, LMSW|2023-08-23T14:10:46-04:00August 23rd, 2023|Categories: Workshop, Program, & Curriculum Design|Tags: Data Driven, Evaluative Thinking, Grantmaking, Nonprofits, program design|0 Comments

A principle in program design is that, if a program is placed in a new location, the program will still perform as expected.

From a program evaluation perspective, we understand that a program’s location presents both challenges and opportunities, as the physical location (whether it’s an actual neighborhood or virtual) is often as unique as the program itself.

So, when you’re evaluating a multi-site program, not only are you assessing the extent that differences in outcomes are due to variations in project implementation, you’re also sensitive to the fact that you’re doing a side-by-side comparison.

Why? Because if you’re a staff member that’s been placed in this new program location, and you’re experiencing the uniques characteristics and quirks of the program’s location in real time, the evaluation can yield results that you’re already aware of. Plus, you’ve most likely informed your staff’s leadership well before the evaluator showed up and this can be frustrating when you need leadership’s help in addressing issues and you’re not being listened to.

A program in multiple locations may have the same outcome goals, but will always be impacted by the conditions it’s operating in.

Every organization has unique needs, capacities, and challenges. Yet funders often make .”one size fits all” requests”. From organizational priorities and resource constraints to lack of internal buy-in and strict accountability, grantees can become resentful of funders when they’re expected to fit into a box as opposed to working together in ways that are flexible and makes sense to both the funder and the grantee.

Funders should let go of one-size-fits-all solutions and play a more crucial role in providing support and guidance to their grantees. They can do this by:

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17 Aug, 2023

Try This: Update Your Logic Model

By Nicole Clark, LMSW|2023-08-16T22:18:56-04:00August 17th, 2023|Categories: Workshop, Program, & Curriculum Design|Tags: Data Driven, Evaluative Thinking, Logic Models, Try This|0 Comments

*Try this activity and let me know how it goes for you.*

When logic models are viewed as a valuable planning and learning tool and used with other programmatic tools, it increases the likelihood that your organization will use them.

So, let’s update your program’s logic model!

This activity is ideal for:

Anyone responsible for designing and/or implementing programs and services

What you’ll need:

A program or service logic model

The steps:

This activity assumes that your program has a logic model, as you won’t be able to update it if you don’t have one.

Visually, your logic model could look like this:

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5 Jul, 2023

Ask Nicole: Our Programs Are Outdated

By Nicole Clark, LMSW|2023-07-03T13:27:35-04:00July 5th, 2023|Categories: Workshop, Program, & Curriculum Design|Tags: Ask Nicole, Data Driven, Evaluative Thinking, Nonprofits, program design|0 Comments

Have a question you’d like to be featured? Let me know.

Nonprofit organizations play a vital role in addressing social issues and making a positive impact in our communities. To effectively serve their communities and achieve their mission, nonprofits must constantly adapt and evolve. One crucial aspect of this evolution is updating program design and curricula, which may not be top of mind for nonprofit staff.

Once you create a program, that’s not the end. Like your strategic plan, your programs aren’t static. Programs (and services, but for today’s post, “programs” will be used as a catch-all term) should be updated based on a variety of factors.

When was the last time you reviewed and updated your programs? In this month’s Ask Nicole, let’s explore six important reasons for nonprofits should regularly review and update their programs. Don’t wait for a funder to recommend this to you.

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21 Jun, 2023

Try This: Data Sense Making

By Nicole Clark, LMSW|2023-06-21T10:55:04-04:00June 21st, 2023|Categories: Research & Evaluation|Tags: Data Driven, Data Sense-Making, Evaluative Thinking, Try This|0 Comments

*Try this and let me know how it goes for you.*

Getting clear on why you’re collecting data shifts your organization from being reactive to proactively data driven.

You know why you’re collecting data. You may even have data. What do you do with it?

Let’s try data sense making.

Data sense making is a partnership, guided by listening, collaboration, curiosity, and perspective sharing. Gather around and let’s try this activity.

This activity is ideal for:

Anyone responsible for leading data collection and sense making processes
Anyone interested in applying evaluative thinking
Anyone interested in new ways to engaging stakeholders

What you’ll need:

A setup conducive to capturing ideas (laptop, pen and paper, whiteboard, etc.). Make sure your notes are kept in a place where you can refer back to
Depending on the size of the evaluation, allocate between 1 – 3 hours of time for your session
Consider the time of the session and the lives of the participants

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14 Jun, 2023

Before You Start Collecting Data, Read This

By Nicole Clark, LMSW|2023-06-14T10:58:35-04:00June 14th, 2023|Categories: Research & Evaluation|Tags: Data Driven, Data Sense-Making, Evaluative Thinking|0 Comments

The first evaluation I ever led was for The Doula Project. My relationship to The Doula Project started with being a volunteer as a graduate student, and joining the board of directors a few years later.

Based on feedback from the organization’s Leadership Circle, there was a gradual decrease in volunteer shift sign-ups, and as a volunteer-led organization, the board wanted to understand why.

We learned that, despite having over 100 volunteers at the time and expanding to more clinics in most of New York City’s boroughs, volunteer engagement decreased. Why?

Once I graduated and began working full time, I didn’t have time to volunteer anymore. Majority of the volunteers that engaged in the evaluation had the same experience. Also, majority of the volunteers were transient. Many New York City college and graduate students tend to leave the city after graduation. For the ones that stay, transitioning from school to employment presents barriers on volunteering. And for The Doula Project, many of the shifts were during the work week.

Another thing the board and the Leadership Circle wanted to explore was the impact of the organization’s recruitment efforts. As a volunteer, most of the women I helped were women of color, and this was reflected in the experiences of the volunteer base. This was important because, while the organization served mostly people of color, majority of the volunteer base identified as white.

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Stop Prioritizing “One Size Fits All” Solutions

Try This: Update Your Logic Model

Ask Nicole: Our Programs Are Outdated

Try This: Data Sense Making

Before You Start Collecting Data, Read This

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