Annette

Building a data culture for nonprofits during an organizational planning session

Data Culture in Nonprofits and Organizations: Why It Matters When Resources Are Limited

Leave a Comment / Data, Data Practices /

In today’s rapidly evolving world, organizations, especially nonprofits, face pressure to achieve greater impact with fewer resources. Whether navigating economic uncertainty, responding to societal changes, or simply trying to maximize outcomes, the answer often lies in smarter, data-informed decisions. For this reason, embedding data culture practices in everyday processes and procedures is no longer a […]

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KPIs for mission-driven organizations showing efficiency, engagement, impact, and organizational health metrics

Choosing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for Mission-Driven Organizations

Leave a Comment / KPIs /

At first, when you start looking at KPIs for program evaluation, it can easily feel like there is a metric for everything. But does that mean you should be tracking hundreds of them? Definitely not. Becoming a data-driven organization does not require monitoring everything; it requires tracking what matters. Mission-driven organizations have simultaneous needs, such

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What are Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Why Do They Matter?

What are Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Why Do They Matter?

Leave a Comment / KPIs /

Have you ever googled “KPIs for mission-driven organizations” and felt overwhelmed by the endless lists of financial and technology companies, each offering dozens of metrics and tools? You are not alone. KPIs, or Key Performance Indicators, are widely used in many industries and are now common in purpose-driven organizations. At their core, KPIs help you

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board with chart showing metrics for better evaluation

Measure What Matters: Evaluating Your Metrics When Capacity is Limited

Leave a Comment / Evaluation /

Why Meaningful Metrics Matter Now More Than Ever For mission-driven organizations, the fiscal year is often a natural time to pause, review metrics, and examine whether programs are achieving their intended impact. Yet this reflection has become increasingly challenging. As result, many nonprofits are navigating tighter budgets, rising operational costs, staff burnout, and growing pressure

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Why Evaluation Matters During Times of Change

How Evaluation Guides Purpose-Driven Organizations Through Change

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Why Evaluation During Change Matters At some point, every nonprofit or purpose-driven organization faces defining moments. They may face challenges such as limited funding, market shifts, conflicting priorities, or staffing transitions. As a result, these challenges are stressful. They can evoke feelings of urgency and fear, leading to reactive decision-making. Yet amid this uncertainty, evaluation

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Evaluation for mission-driven organizations during challenging times

Finding Focus in Uncertain Times: 2026 Blog Series

Evaluation, Nonprofit Resources /

Many mission-driven organizations are starting 2026 with a sense of anxiety and uncertainty. They face rising costs, staffing shortages, uncertainty around government funding, and other unpredictable industry shifts. In times like these, evaluation for nonprofits becomes essential. Recent national surveys found that, while 85% of organizations expected greater demand for their services in 2025, almost

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Team working on laptops and digital devices, representing AI in research and evaluation.

The Future of Research and Evaluation: Embracing Artificial Intelligence

Leave a Comment / Artificial Intelligence, Evaluation, Research /

At Research Evaluation Consulting, we believe that data-driven decisions are the cornerstone of effective change. As we look to the future, one of the most significant drivers of change in research and evaluation is the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI). As technology continues to evolve, AI presents both exciting opportunities and new challenges for the

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Woman climbing rock, symbolizing research challenges and barriers organizations encounter.

6 Research Challenges That Could Be Holding Your Organization Back

Leave a Comment / Research /

The Risks of Poor Evaluation Research Imagine this: Your organization launches a new program based on what seems like a great idea. You invest time, money, and other resources, but after a year, the results are underwhelming. You’re left wondering: What went wrong? This scenario happens all too often when research isn’t used effectively to

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Lightbulb, pencil, and paper symbolizing best practices for logic models and program planning

Best Practices for Creating and Using Logic Models and Theories of Change

Leave a Comment / Logic Models, Theories of Change /

Nonprofit organizations rely on logic models and theories of change (ToC) to effectively design, implement, and evaluate their programs. However, while these tools are invaluable, creating and using them well requires careful planning and attention to detail. This blog outlines best practices for logic models that help nonprofit leaders plan, communicate, and adapt their programs

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