Principles & Standards

For Nonprofit & Philanthropy Excellence

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The 12 Accountability Principles

2. Evaluation

About

Evaluation is a distinct process, different from reporting to all stakeholders. While reporting is largely an administrative task focused on accountability, evaluation is a strategic process focused on improvement. The evaluation process allows nonprofits and philanthropies to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of their mission achievement. Each organization should use evaluation to measure the impact of actions, assess how those actions align with missions, and act upon this information. As entities that serve the public, nonprofits and philanthropies have an obligation to demonstrate their value to the public good. The public has a stake in charitable performance and is entitled to information regarding an organization’s results. Nonprofits and philanthropies should regularly measure their performance against a clear set of desired outcomes and should share such information with their diverse constituents.

1. Nonprofits and philanthropies should have defined, ongoing and sustainable procedures in place for gathering information and evaluating programs, procedures, and outcomes in relation to mission.

2. Nonprofits and philanthropies should take into account and respond to the experience, needs, and satisfaction of the constituents they serve in their programming and service endeavors and provide a grievance procedure to address complaints.

3. Nonprofits and philanthropies should conduct program evaluations in ways that are culturally sensitive and appropriate for the community served. FS

4. Outcomes measurement strategies should inform the operational plan and should be used to evaluate organizational effectiveness and continuous improvement. FS

5. Evaluation results should be used to strengthen and improve programs and activities by incorporating evaluation findings into strategic planning processes.

6. Performance measures should be realistic, specific, measurable and appropriate to the size and scope of the organization and its diverse constituents. FS

a. Measurement should include information on outputs, outcomes, results, and satisfaction thus, evaluations should be comprehensive enough to account for both program process and program impact. FS

b. Measurements may include both qualitative and quantitative data. FS

c. Measurement should include data on efficiency and effectiveness. FS

d. Evaluations should be conducted on a regular enough and appropriate basis to gauge progress toward program and organizational performance benchmarks. FS

7. Information that is collected from persons served must be kept confidential unless permission is given for release. FS

8. Evaluation should be ongoing and should include input from a wide variety of diverse stakeholders including staff, board, funders, community members, etc.

9. Evaluation results should be communicated to a broad range of diverse constituents including staff, board, clients, foundations, public, etc.

10. Nonprofits and philanthropies should share relevant lessons learned with other nonprofits and philanthropies and funding sources.

11. Organizations should strive to improve the evaluation skills of staff while utilizing external evaluators when appropriate and feasible. These evaluators should follow the National Guiding Principles for Evaluators set forth by the American Evaluation Association. (http://www.eval.org/ publications/guidingprinciples.asp)

12. Organizations should include realistic evaluation expenses in all project budgets.

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Code Definitions

First Steps

MS Secretary of State (or other state agency) Requirement

Internal Revenue Service (or other federal agency) Requirement