Nonprofit evaluation isn’t just a box to check on grant applications – it’s a powerful way to improve programs and find new funding. Dr. Annette Shtivelband recently spoke to ZIM Consulting’s staff about its importance.
Our favorite takeaway from Dr. Annette Shtivelband’s recent presentation? Investing in evaluation is important and will get nonprofits more funding!
Dr. Annette Shtivelband, PhD, is a seasoned program evaluation expert with more than 15 years of experience. She’s worked with more than 100 clients across various sectors. As the founder of Research Evaluation Consulting, she has spent the last decade helping nonprofits strengthen their evaluation capacity and align data collection methods with funder expectations. During her presentation to ZIM, Dr. Shtivelband shared powerful insights. Here are our favorites:
Demonstrating Impact is a Challenge.
Evaluation can Inform Decisions and Identify Areas for Improvement.
Effective Program Design Improves Nonprofit Performance.
Data-Driven Decisions Create Long-term Success.
Demonstrating Impact is a Challenge.
Many nonprofits face significant challenges when it comes to evaluation. According to Dr. Shtivelband, one of the primary difficulties is aligning funder expectations with the data that nonprofits collect. Funders often require outcomes and impact data—information on the actual impact of a program—while many nonprofits are still focused on tracking outputs (e.g., the number of participants served in a specific program).
Smaller organizations may lack the resources to implement the comprehensive types of evaluation that funders want to see, making it difficult to provide quantifiable proof of programmatic impact in the community. Dr. Shtivelband shared that no matter the size of the nonprofit, implementing even small-scale evaluation methods that focus on meaningful metrics can help organizations secure significantly more funding.
Nonprofit Evaluation can Inform Decisions and Identify Areas for Improvement.
Despite the various challenges that nonprofits face with evaluation, Dr. Shtivelband emphasized that it is a powerful tool that can improve decision-making and identify areas for improvement. By investing in evaluation capacity building, organizations can enhance their ability to collect relevant data, track both qualitative and quantitative results of programs and services, and use this information to refine their current and future programming.
Dr. Shtivelband explained how nonprofits can introduce new data collection methods—such as surveys, interviews, or observations—to measure specific program outcomes more effectively and allow organizations to make data-informed decisions about future programming.
Effective Program Design Improves Nonprofit Performance.
Dr. Shtivelband also underscored the role of evaluation in improving performance and program design. A structured evaluation system allows nonprofits to measure progress and assess whether their programs meet intended outcomes year after year, enhancing an organization’s ability to determine effectiveness and ultimately guide resource allocation.
Dr. Shtivelband suggested that nonprofits engage external evaluators to ensure the objectivity and reliability of their assessments, as development professionals play a crucial role in this process by understanding results-based data. Successful evaluation findings can then inform programming by identifying potential gaps and offering insight as to where additional funds need to be allocated. Further, as nonprofits continue to grow their relationships with foundations, many will share insight as to what they are looking to fund in terms of program impact and outcomes.
Data-Driven Decisions Long-term Success.
Beyond securing funding, Dr. Shtivelband emphasized that regularly assessing program effectiveness helps nonprofits make data-driven decisions to improve operations for the long term. Dr. Shtivelband shared an example of an organization using real-time evaluation feedback to adjust its service delivery model. While the approach required upfront time and money, it allowed the organization to quickly meet participant needs, showcase adaptability, and build stakeholder trust, ultimately securing sustainable funding.
Effective evaluation also promotes transparency and accountability, qualities funders prioritize for ongoing support. When organizations can present clear evaluation results that demonstrate effectiveness and efficiency, they build trust with funders, stakeholders, and the communities they serve.
Dr. Shtivelband reminded evaluation isn’t just about proving success; it’s about learning from what works and what doesn’t. By integrating evaluation into regular program cycles, organizations foster a culture of learning and adaptability, making them more resilient and better positioned for long-term success.
Takeaways for Nonprofits
Dr. Shtivelband emphasized that evaluation is essential for securing more funding and maximizing program impact. By focusing on evaluation findings, organizations can better communicate their success to both existing and potential funders to demonstrate the effectiveness of their programs and ensure they are achieving their goals and objectives.
Her advice: treat evaluation as an investment, not an expense. With the right evaluation systems in place, nonprofits can continuously improve their programming and position themselves for future funding opportunities.
Whether you're just beginning to build an evaluation system or refining one, her insights can help you secure funding and prove your impact. Have you faced challenges with program evaluation? Share your experiences with us—we’d love to hear how you’ve tackled evaluation and funding challenges!