Evaluation

Our evaluation services are geared to improve and enhance ongoing program development (formative evaluation) and provide information that informs decision-making on the continuation or evolution of programs (summative). We offer evaluation services to funder organizations both to evaluate their grantmaking efforts and the programs of their grantees.

Our evaluation work with funders includes the following:

Evaluation-system planning

We design evaluation systems, processes, and tools that bridge organizational assessments and program evaluation for the purposes of effective planning and decision-making. We also help executives and staff increase their understanding of evaluation theory, design, implementation and data collection through workshops and first-hand experience.

Program evaluation

We evaluate philanthropic organizations' programs, initiatives, internal processes and capacities, and systems

Evaluation of capacity-building initiatives

We help funders evaluate their capacity-building efforts, both long and short-term, by providing a critical combination of program evaluation and organizational assessment. We utilize findings to evaluate capacity-building resources, strategies, and activities – not just outcomes.

The following articles and briefing papers illustrate TCC’s work in evaluation for philanthropies:

• Creating a Community of Learners: Making Evaluation Work for Nonprofits and Funders
• Learning As We Go: Making Evaluation Work for Everyone
• Evaluating Capacity-Building Efforts for Nonprofit Organizations
• Order form for A Funder’s Guide to Evaluation: Leveraging Evaluation to Improve Nonprofit Effectiveness