evaluation

Research vs. Evaluation concept with magnifying glass analyzing a document, surrounded by tools for data analysis and decision-making

Research vs. Evaluation: What Every Leader Needs to Know

Leave a Comment / Evaluation, Research /

In today’s data-driven world, leaders across industries – whether in business, healthcare, education, government, or the nonprofit sector – need solid evidence to make informed decisions. But when it comes to gathering and analyzing information, two terms often get confused: research and evaluation. Are they the same? Not quite. Think of research as exploring uncharted […]

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How to build a strong research & evaluation foundation for 2025

Building a Strong Research & Evaluation Foundation: 2025 Blog Series

Leave a Comment / Artificial Intelligence, Evaluation /

Effective leadership hinges on the ability to adapt and make informed decisions. More importantly, research and evaluation are at the forefront of this process, providing essential insights that drive strategic decisions and success. This year, REC blogs will focus on how to support your organization with research and evaluation. Additionally, we will highlight how leaders

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How to spot and prevent survey bias

Survey Biases Exposed: How to Spot and Prevent Them

Leave a Comment / Quality Data, Strategies to Improve Efficiency, Survey Bias /

Your organization is creating a survey to receive feedback on a particular topic or perhaps several areas of interest. The feedback you receive should help your organization make data-driven decisions that will support the achievement of organizational goals. You want to ensure the data you receive is quality and represents your audience so that you

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Data Collection in Practice: A Non-profit Case Study

Data Collection in Practice: A Non-profit Case Study

Leave a Comment / Data Practices, Nonprofit Resources /

Since there are many different data collection methods, selecting the best method is an important step when creating an evaluation plan. However, there are no clear cut “right” methods. While our past posts have presented four data collection methods and the pros and cons of each, this blog will follow a fictional non-profit, Organization X,

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Solutions to Common Survey Mistakes

6 Solutions to Common Survey Mistakes

Leave a Comment / Strategies to Improve Efficiency, Surveys /

In our last post we discussed different survey mistakes, now we provide some solutions to these common survey mistakes! Please note that it is always important to consider organizational and evaluation goals when creating surveys. Know that these are simply a few of the ways to avoid common survey mistakes. Mistake #1: Using All Qualitative

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Avoid These Common Survey Mistakes

6 Common Survey Mistakes

Leave a Comment / Strategies to Improve Efficiency, Surveys /

Surveys are an excellent source of information that help organizations understand the communities they serve. Unfortunately, not all surveys generate quality data due to common survey mistakes and ineffective survey designs. Here are 6 survey mistakes that organizations commonly make: Mistake #1: Using All Qualitative or All Quantitative Questions Using all qualitative or quantitative survey

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5 Program Evaluation Questions to Ask Your Funders

5 Program Evaluation Questions to Ask Your Funders

Leave a Comment / Program Evaluation /

Funders use evaluation to learn more about the organizations they support, hold grantees accountability, and monitor program implementation. Each funder has their own guidelines and requirements about what they want from program evaluation. By asking the following program evaluation questions, your organization can develop an evaluation strategy to address these requirements and balance funders’ requests

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Effectively Communicating with your Stakeholders

Connect and Communicate – 3 Tips for Talking with your Stakeholders

Leave a Comment / Nonprofit Resources /

Effectively Communicating with your Stakeholders Do you communicate effectively with your stakeholders? Are your communications targeted, unique, and relational? Such communication keeps your stakeholders engaged with your organization! Tip #1: Prepare!  Stakeholders – program staff, clients, funders, volunteers, and board members – have varied needs, so do your homework! Brainstorm about who your stakeholders are,

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