program evaluation Archives - Nicole Clark Consulting

4 Mar, 2026

Ask Nicole: Why Should Funders Evaluate Their Portfolios?

By Nicole Clark, LMSW|2026-03-03T23:32:14-05:00March 4th, 2026|Categories: Research & Evaluation|Tags: Ask Nicole, Funding, Grantees, Philanthropy, program evaluation|0 Comments

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

Over the past few years, I’ve found myself increasingly in spaces with funders.

Not only are they hiring me to evaluate individual grantee programs, but I’m also working alongside their grantees, support learning agendas, and strengthen strategy implementation.

In one recent engagement, I partnered with a funder to develop a theory of change designed to sharpen and improve their investments in sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice. That work pushed me to think more deeply about the relationship between how funders award individual grants and the broader ecosystem a funder is trying to influence.

Recently, I’ve shifted my focus toward evaluating at a more strategic level.

Not only should we ask, “Did this grantee meet their outputs?”, funders should also ask, “Is this portfolio coherent?”Is it equitable? What measurable change is this portfolio driving, and how has it increased grantees’ capacity to sustain that change?

These are bigger questions. To answer them, funders — especially program officers responsible for managing funding portfolios — must step back and examine not only what they fund, but how and why they fund it.

(more…)

16 Apr, 2025

Try This: Redefine Your Metrics

By Nicole Clark, LMSW|2025-04-16T09:57:07-04:00April 16th, 2025|Categories: Research & Evaluation|Tags: indicators, metrics, program evaluation, Try This|0 Comments

Whether your goal is weight loss or muscle gain, the first thing we tend to measure is the number on the scale. But if you want a more accurate view of your progress, it’s time to redefine your metrics.

In program design and evaluation, the indicators we choose shape not only what we measure—but how we define success. By learning to redefine your metrics, you’re evaluating your progress in a more holistic, human way.

This activity is another example of how evaluation shows up in our everyday, identifying more meaningful, context-driven indicators of progress. Whether you’re thinking about your own growth or your program’s impact, expanding how you measure can shift what you learn and how you respond.

Objective

To help staff apply evaluative thinking to both personal and programmatic progress by identifying non-traditional, meaningful indicators of success.

This activity is ideal for:

Program staff involved in design, implementation, or evaluation
Teams who want to move beyond surface-level outcomes
Organizations interested in becoming more data driven

What you’ll need:

Paper and pen, journal, or notes app
A shared document for team discussion
90 minutes of uninterrupted staff time

The steps:

(more…)

9 Apr, 2025

The Recipe for a Good Evaluation

By Nicole Clark, LMSW|2025-04-09T10:43:55-04:00April 9th, 2025|Categories: Research & Evaluation|Tags: program evaluation|0 Comments

Trying a new recipe? That’s evaluation in action.

The recipe for a good evaluation is similar to trying out a new recipe.

You find a new recipe that looks amazing—maybe it popped up on social media or was handed down from a friend.

You buy the ingredients, follow the steps, and give it a go.

But the final dish is just… okay. Not bad, but not great. So you make a mental note: Less salt next time, longer cooking time, or double an ingredient.

This quick post-dinner reflection is the start of a recipe for a good evaluation.

Like a chef creating a cookbook, recipes are a perfect example of how we gather feedback, make adjustments, and improve things over time.

(more…)

2 Apr, 2025

Ask Nicole: How We Use Evaluation Every Day

By Nicole Clark, LMSW|2025-04-02T15:22:15-04:00April 2nd, 2025|Categories: Research & Evaluation|Tags: Ask Nicole, program evaluation|0 Comments

When people hear “evaluation,” they often picture something dry, technical, and reserved for experts—maybe even a little intimidating. It sounds like one of those tedious processes filled with jargon and reports no one really reads.

In reality, we’re evaluating all the time. From the meals we cook to the shows we watch, we’re constantly assessing what works, what doesn’t, and what to do next.

Evaluation isn’t just a professional tool—it’s a part of how we live, make decisions, and improve things around us.

Here are 8 everyday experiences that show how evaluation shows up in your daily life:

(more…)

26 Feb, 2025

Beyond the Grant Award: Setting Up Evaluation Systems for Long-Term Success

By Nicole Clark, LMSW|2025-02-26T09:56:59-05:00February 26th, 2025|Categories: Strategic Planning & Sustainability|Tags: Funding, Grantwriting, program evaluation|0 Comments

Congratulations!

Landing a grant feels great—it’s validation that your work matters and your approach is solid. But the work doesn’t stop when the money arrives. In fact, securing funding is just the beginning.

Building sustainable evaluation practices helps your organization measure progress, stay on top of program updates, and be positioned for future funding opportunities.

Ready to turn your grant into lasting success? Let’s dive into setting up evaluation systems designed for the long haul.

(more…)

This Is A Custom Widget