Level Best: How Small and Grassroots Nonprofits Can Tackle Evaluation and Talk Results (Kim Klein's Chardon Press)

Level Best offers guidance that demystifies evaluation and takes into account the unique challenges and realities of grassroots nonprofit organizations. It provides a new framework for thinking about evaluation and tools for measuring and sharing results in ways that are practical, efficient, and meaningful. Level Best offers guidance that demystifies evaluation and takes into account the unique challenges and realities of grassroots nonprofit organizations. It provides a new framework for thinking about evaluation and tools for measuring and sharing results in ways that are practical, efficient, and meaningful.Veteran authors Marcia Festen and Marianne Philbin break down the evaluation process into five stages-planning, asking, tracking, learning, and using-and show you how to integrate evaluation into your ongoing work. Their approach emphasizes that evaluation at its best is about learning rather than judging and improving rather than proving, and that it is overall an integral part of achieving your mission.The book draws on the authors' experience with nonprofits, foundations, donors, and boards of directors, and the expertise of evaluation professionals and nonprofit managers. It includes sample forms, checklists, and materials that have been used successfully by real-life organizations, and provides sample meeting agendas that will help you make decisions and move through an evaluation process from start to finish. In easy-to-follow steps, Level Best will help you develop your evaluation plan, gather your data, and use the lessons learned to strengthen your organization and make the best possible case for continued support. "Level Best offers guidance that demystifies evaluation and takes into account the unique challenges and realities of grassroots nonprofit organizations. It provides a new framework for thinking about evaluation and tools for measuring and sharing results in ways that are practical, efficient, and meaningful." "Marcia Festen and Marianne Philbin break down the evaluation process into five stages - planning, asking, tracking, learning, and using - and show you how to integrate evaluation into your ongoing work. Their approach emphasizes that evaluation at its best is about learning rather than judging and improving rather than proving, and that it is overall an integral part of achieving your mission." Level Best discusses the unique challenges that face small and grassroots nonprofits dealing with evaluation. It offers practical tools, affordable strategies, and language for talking about organizational results. The book provides information that is simple and direct, logically organized, easily found, and quickly absorbed. Understanding Evaluation -- A Simple Evaluation Framework -- Planning Your Evaluation -- Asking The Right Questions -- Tracking Information -- Learning From And Using The Information. Marcia Festen, Marianne Philbin. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 129-130) And Index.