Evaluation Technique Series

Getting Past the Jargon

As grantmakers, we often look for evaluation and assessment techniques that match the projects or programs we fund. We want an evaluation that’s useful to the foundation, the grantee, the grantee’s stakeholders, and the wider field or community.

We hear about techniques like theory of change, collaborative inquiry, ethnography, or outcomes measurement, and their use seems to be growing. Even so, it's not always easy to find out exactly what the terms mean. Many grantmakers remain uncertain about what the methods have to offer, how they can build useful knowledge, or when they might be most valuable.

To help grantmakers understand some of these newer evaluative approaches and weigh their advantages, GrantCraft is developing a collection of briefing notes. Each note will explain the basics of one technique and answer some common questions about its use. A mini-case, based on one grantmaker’s experiences, is featured in each guide. If literature about the topic is readily accessible, we refer you to it.
 

	Participatory Action Research Involving "All The Players" in Evaluation and Change
	Making Measures Work for You   Outcomes and Evaluation
	Mapping Change Using a Theory of Change to Guide Planning and Evaluation
	Learning Together Collaborative Inquiry Among Grant Makers and Grantees
	Getting Inside the Story Ethnographic Approaches to Evaluation