Earmark Grant Evaluation:An Introduction and Overview
May 2005
Presented by:Nancy Hewat, Senior Project Manager
Public Policy Associates, Inc.119 Pere Marquette Drive
Lansing, Michigan 48912-1231(517) 485-4477
www.publicpolicy.com
Presentation Topics
The evaluation requirement for earmark grants
Evaluation overview – or – “Where’s the upside?”
Planning the evaluation
Logic modeling
The evaluation process for earmark grants
Please don’t hold your questions!
The Evaluation Requirement
Each grantee must …
Conduct or commission an evaluation
Submit evaluation plan
Use the evaluation template
Submit evaluation report shortly after completion of project activities
Evaluation Overview– or –
“Where’s the upside?”
Evaluation is a mindset …
We are all evaluators
Evaluation is continuous
Evaluation looks forward, not just backward
Involves organizational learning
Means people working together
Program evaluation is ...
The systematic collection of information about the subject of the evaluation
Used to make decisions about organization’s or program’s: Creation
Improvement
Effectiveness
Evaluation allows you to examine ...
What’s working well
What is not
How to improve
There is no bad news, only news!
evaluationshowing results
improve program/ project quality (learning from experience)
futurepast present
Evaluation looks in two directions
Evaluation requires comparison ...
of the same group over time• pre- and post-tests
• trends in community-level data
of two comparable groups at one point in time over time
of your group to a larger group county compared to state
Our Approach: Utilization-Focused Evaluation
Focuses on intended uses and intended users
Is inherently participatory and collaborative by actively involving primary intended users in all aspects of the evaluation
Leads to ongoing, longer-term commitment to using evaluation logic and building a culture of learning in a program or organization
Benefits of Evaluation
Program/organizational improvement Accountability to funders and others Planning Program description for stakeholders Public relations Fund raising Policy decision making
Evaluation has lots of upside!
Planning the Evaluation
Elements of the Evaluation Plan Who conducts the evaluation?
Internal or external?
Experienced or novice?
When do they do it? Along the way or after the fact?
How much do they do? The level of intensity must fit the project
Too much diverts resources, too little leaves unanswered questions
What exactly do they do? Six major steps
Evaluation Steps
1. Specify goals 2. Establish measures
3. Collect data
4. Analyze data
5. Prepare reports6. Improve project
Step 1: Specify Goals
Thinking about goals What are you trying to accomplish?
What would success look like?
What is the difference between the current state of affairs and what you are trying to create?
Example of a goal statement:“Increase incomes of low-income families in the region through training for entry-level jobs that have career ladders leading to good jobs.”
Step 2: Establish Measures
Determine performance measures Must be quantifiable
Data must be available, reliable, and valid
Examples of measures:
Process: Number of trainees
Outcome: Skill and credential gains
Impact: Wage increases and promotions
Step 3: Collect Data
Identify data sources, such as: Administrative records Surveys, interviews, focus groups Observation
Gather data Design the instruments and procedures for
collection Conduct data collection periodically
Record data Organize data Create data base Verify data
Remember the measures!
Step 4: Analyze and Interpret Data
Sort and sift: organize data for interpretation Cross tabs
Modeling
Conduct data analysis to look for: Changes over time
Progress relative to goals or standards
Differences between groups
Test preliminary interpretation
This is the most creative step.
Step 5: Prepare Reports
Determine reporting schedule
Report preliminary findings to key stakeholders and other audiences
Gather reactions
Incorporate reactions
Finalize reporting products
Different audiences need different types of reports.
Step 6: Improve Project
Deliver reporting products internally
Facilitate strategic and operational planning
Improve processes and results
A good evaluation will be more valuable to you than to DOL!
Logic Modeling
Does the project hang together? Are the expected outcomes realistic?
Are there enough resources?
Do the customers like the product?
Does the organization have the right skills?
Logic models help answer these questions.
A Simple Logic Model
Things needed to run the project:
People, stuff, money, etc.
What you do:
Market, recruit, design, train, place, etc.
Direct results of activities:
Training completers,credentialsawarded, etc.
Changes caused by the project:
Jobs, wages, promotions, etc.
Inputs Activities Outputs Outcomes
Logic Models Focus on OutcomesMission
Concise statement of purpose
Goal
Broad statement of desired outcome
Objective
Measurable statement of an expected outcome over a period of time
PerformanceMeasures
Ongoing quantitative indicators of objective outcome achievement
The Evaluation Process for Earmark Grants
Use the DOL Tools
“The Essential Guide for Writing an Earmark Grant Proposal”
“Evaluation Template for Earmark Grantees” (to be provided later)
Earmark Grant Evaluation:An Introduction and Overview
May 2005
Presented by:Nancy Hewat, Senior Project Administrator
Public Policy Associates, Inc.119 Pere Marquette Drive
Lansing, Michigan 48912-1231(517) 485-4477
www.publicpolicy.com