
Articles
Explore our latest articles, developed by our team of evaluators and special guests, grounded in real-world experience to support your evaluation practice—whether you're a beginner or an expert.
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Writing Evaluation Questions - Video
Learn how to write effective evaluation questions with these 10 expert tips from Eval Academy. Discover how to align questions with purpose, engage partners, and explore outcomes, systems, and context.
New Resource: “Tips for Writing A Winning Proposal”
Learn how to draft a winning proposals with tips on understanding RFPs, building strong work plans, showcasing experience, and aligning budgets to client needs.
New Resource: “In-Person Interview or Focus Group Checklist”
Prepare effectively for in-person interviews or focus groups with this comprehensive checklist. Includes pre-event planning tips, essential items to bring, and practical advice for smooth facilitation.
Creating a Meaningful Funder Report
Learn how to write impactful funder reports that showcase your program’s success, build trust, and secure continued support. Includes tips on data collection, structure, visuals, and storytelling.
Using the Kirkpatrick Model - Video
Learn how to use the Kirkpatrick Model in your evaluations with this short video.
New template: “Logic Model Template in PowerPoint”
Tired of being restricted by the design limitations of Microsoft products? Looking for a fun way to present your logic model? Our new Logic Model Template is both functional within the Microsoft suite AND creative! Created in PowerPoint for Microsoft users, this template is perfect for evaluators who want to bring creativity to their planning tools. This customizable template will help to make your logic model visually engaging and easy to understand.
Making Small Samples Work
Learn how to analyze with a small sample size of a handful of responses. This article discusses how to uncover valuable insights while communicating results with transparency.
New Resource: “Using Case Studies in Your Evaluation”
Unlock the storytelling potential of case studies for your evaluations with this new tip sheet from Eval Academy! Our tip sheet highlights key tips for why you should use case studies in your evaluation, how case studies help to explain the story behind your data, and what you should look for when choosing a case study.
Building Trauma-Informed Evaluation Tools
Learn how to create trauma-informed evaluation tools that prioritize safety, dignity, and inclusivity when working with people affected by trauma.
New Resource: “Evaluation and Social Media infographic”
Uncover key do’s and don’ts for evaluators using social media. This infographic will help you to share findings ethically, engage audiences, and increase impact while protecting confidentiality.
So You’re New to Evaluation? Tips for New and Emerging Evaluators
Discover tips for new evaluators to help build skills, embrace creativity, and grow your impact in evaluation.
Does Your Evaluation Need a Subject Matter Expert?
Explore how subject matter experts (SMEs) enrich evaluation projects with insights, credibility, and engagement—plus key challenges to consider.
New Resource: “Project Management in Evaluation”
This tip sheet offers practical guidance to help evaluators manage projects more effectively—especially when things don’t go as planned. Learn how to stay adaptable, communicate clearly, and use your data to navigate challenges and keep your evaluation on track.
New Resource: “Steps for a Document Review”
Streamline your document review process with this infographic. This practical guide walks you through defining your scope, building a review framework, analyzing key findings, and turning your insights into actionable recommendations.
New Template: “Data Request Form Template”
Streamline your evaluation planning with our customizable Data Request Form Template. Perfect for evaluators who need to clearly communicate, organize, and justify their data needs when working with clients or partners.
New Resource: Survey Design Tip Sheet
Choosing the right survey questions is key to collecting meaningful data. This tip sheet offers a visual overview of common question types—like multiple choice, Likert scales, and open-ended responses—plus practical tips to improve clarity, reduce burden, and align with your evaluation plan. Whether you're building your first survey or refining an existing one, this resource makes better survey design easier.
New Resource: Informed Consent Infographic
Understanding informed consent is essential to ethical data collection. This visual guide breaks down what informed consent really means, what participants need to know, and how to obtain it—whether through written, verbal, or implied methods. Perfect for evaluators, researchers, and program staff, this free infographic simplifies key concepts and supports accessible, plain-language consent practices. Plus, explore linked articles and tools to deepen your learning!
The Double-edged Sword of Interim Reports
Interim reports can offer valuable insight—but they can also use time and resources if not used strategically. This article explores the pros and cons of interim reports, helping you decide when they’re worth it and when an alternative might be more effective. Learn how to maintain transparency, manage risk, and keep your evaluation on track—plus, discover practical alternatives like status updates and implementation reports to better meet your clients’ needs.
New template: “Logic Model Template - Breakfast”
Looking for a fun way to present your logic model? This breakfast-themed Logic Model Template is both functional and design-forward! Created in Canva using only free elements, this template is perfect for evaluators who want to bring creativity to their planning tools. This customizable template will help to make your logic model visually engaging and easy to understand.
The Many Skills of an Evaluator: Evaluation-Adjacent Work
Evaluators do more than just evaluations! From meeting facilitation to strategic planning, data visualization, and quality improvement, our skills support organizations in many ways. Learn more in this article.