Tips for Writing Evaluation into Grant Proposals

Evaluation has become a standard requirement of many grant programs. In light of the ongoing importance of evaluation, you may find the following practical tips make addressing these requirements easier and actually help your grant application stand out.  

Tip #1: Evaluation requirements may not be limited to a specific application section, and they may be "disguised" within bigger concepts that imply evaluation activity. Even if you don't find a section dedicated to evaluation, evaluation expectations may be embedded in other parts of the grant application. For example, a funder might ask applicants to describe processes and systems for: continuous quality improvement, performance management, and needs assessment and monitoring. These are "code-words" for evaluation-related activities. Be sure to describe evaluation processes and tools (i.e., for program data collection, analysis and reporting) that will guide program decisions. Showing funders that you understand how evaluation is inherent to effective programming will help you make a compelling case.  

Tip #2: Evaluators likely will draft an evaluation section and consult on other areas of the proposal free-of-charge. Many organizations wrestle with the evaluation section or use a grant writer. Why not use an expert? Evaluators typically will provide free consultation and some grant writing services free-of-charge. In addition to writing the more traditional evaluation sections, evaluators can help you craft outcome objectives, develop logic models, and develop an evaluation budget. They also can help you identify data sources and construct a convincing argument in the needs assessment section. In exchange, they will ask that you specify them as the evaluation subcontractor in the grant. Don't worry - evaluators understand that grants will not necessarily be awarded; they invest in this free consultative work as a source of potential new project work.

Tip #3: Develop evaluation partnerships and make an evaluator a regular grant writing team member. Remember, it is good business for evaluators to develop a partnership with your organization. Just note that most would like to begin this partnership when the project is first under development in the grant writing stage. This allows them to gain an insider's perspective of your project and to assess the evaluation capacity of your organization and stakeholders. Also, evaluators probably would rather work on an evaluation they helped design (rather than one that was designed for them and that they might not understand or find overly prescriptive). So, talk to partner agencies and funders about the evaluators they recommend. Test out evaluators through a free project consultation (many will offer these). Then, the next time you write a grant, ask the evaluator to join your team and monitor his/her initiative, timeliness, and responsiveness in the grant writing process. When you find the right evaluator, you will not only get free, quality grant writing services, but also begin building a history that shows you can work effectively with an evaluator - and this history will help your application stand out for funders.  

Written by: Suzanne Kennedy Leahy, PhD
Vice President - OMNI Institute 

SLeahy@omni.org 

Development Roundtable - Jared Polis Foundation! 

CRC Roundtables are an opportunity for peer-learning and networking for those who work and volunteer in the nonprofit community. New participants are always welcome and encouraged to join in these informal, supportive and confidential discussions. The development roundtable is facilitated by CRC Executive Director Carol Nickell. This peer-learning opportunity provides an introduction to a Colorado-based funder. The August guest is Gina Nocera, Executive Director of the Jared Polis Foundation.

August 16 | 2pm-3:30pm

789 Sherman Street, Suite 385

Denver, CO 80203

REGISTER TODAY! 

Register today for Heart of Colorado Rural Philanthropy Days!

The Heart of Colorado Rural Philanthropy Days region is comprised of five counties: Chaffee, Custer, Fremont, Park, and Teller. The Heart of Colorado hosts its Rural Philanthropy Days every four years. The 2012 event will be held in Salida, Colorado. 

Upcoming Grant Deadlines

• AEC Trust, The, 9/1
• Animal Assistance Foundation, 9/30
• Bacon Family Foundation, 9/1
• Bay and Paul Foundations, Inc., The, 9/1
• BBVA Compass Foundation (formerly Compass Bank Foundation), 9/30
• Bloedorn Foundation, 9/15
• Brett Family Foundation, 9/1
• Broomfield Community Foundation, 9/1
• Buell Foundation, Temple Hoyne, 9/4
• Community Foundation Serving Boulder County, 9/30
• Concerts For Kids, 9/30
• Conservation, Food and Health Foundation, The, 9/1
• COPIC Medical Foundation, 9/30
• DOLA: Colorado Private Activity Bond Program (PAB), 9/1
• El Paso Corporate Foundation, 9/30
• Foundation for Protection of Animals, 9/1
• Frueauff Foundation, The Charles A., 9/15
• Giddings Foundation, Hester E. & Edwin W., 9/30
• Hopper Family Foundation, George W., 9/15
• Inasmuch Foundation, 9/15
• Johnson Foundation, Helen K. & Arthur E., 9/1
• Junior League of Denver Foundation, 9/10
• Larimer County Open Lands Small Grants for Community Partnering, 9/7
• Law Enforcement Assistance Fund (LEAF), 9/1
• Learning Disabilities Foundation of America, 9/15
• McGowan Charitable Fund, William G., 9/1
• Moriah Fund Inc, 9/1
• Mullen Foundation, J. K., 9/1
• OtterCares Foundation, 9/15
• Packard Foundation, David & Lucile, 9/1
• Reeve Foundation, Christopher & Dana, 9/1
• RGK Foundation, 9/21
• U.S. Bancorp Foundation, 9/30
• UCC Neighbors in Need, 9/30
• Unitarian Universalist Fund for a Just Society, 9/15
• UPS Foundation, 9/1
• Venoco Community Partnership, 9/15
• Weckbaugh Foundation, 9/1
• Wolcott Family Foundation, 9/7
• Women Helping Others Foundation (WHO), 9/6
• Women's Fund of Weld County, 9/1