Non-profits operate with inspiring missions, limited resources, and high expectations from donors, stakeholders, and communities. Every initiative they launch is designed to solve a problem, improve lives, or strengthen communities. But how do organizations know whether their programs are truly working as intended? That is where program evaluation becomes indispensable. For organizations dedicated to creating…
In the world of philanthropy, foundation grants serve as a vital source of funding for nonprofit organizations, driving initiatives that address social issues, promote research, support the arts, and enhance community well-being. However, to succeed in the competitive grant-seeking landscape, one cannot overlook the integral role of evaluation in foundation grantmaking. In this blog, we’ll explore why…
Currently, EVALCORP is partnering with eight counties across the state of California on behavioral health initiatives. In this post, we offer a snapshot of our work in one of those counties to illustrate how our program evaluation and needs assessment services work in the behavioral health sector, and touch on the future of mental health…
Integrated Plans, Community Planning, Transparency Reports, and Timelines In our previous post, we examined how California’s Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA), enacted under Proposition 1, restructures and redefines the priorities of the former Mental Health Services Act (MHSA). Since then, the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has released Version 1.2.0 of its BHSA…
EVALCORP has had the opportunity to work with the Substance Use Services division of Ventura County Behavioral Health (VCBH) since 2006, and that long view has allowed our team to generate insights that shape how we approach the work. We have led program evaluation and strategic planning projects for several VCBH substance use and prevention…
Currently, EVALCORP is partnering with Pinellas County, Florida to conduct a program evaluation for initiatives funded through the First Responders-Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act Grants (FR-CARA) program. This project addresses the County’s goals of reducing opioid-related deaths and connecting individuals to effective treatment. Evaluating Overdose Response Programming In our work for this project, we are…
Community-based initiatives are more than just good intentions—they’re powerful vehicles for positive social change. In this post we’ll explain both how program evaluation can maximize community impact and how to work effectively with an evaluation consultant. At its core, program evaluation is about maximizing a program’s potential—ensuring that every effort is purposeful, effective, and continually…
Developing an evaluation begins with thinking. You need to consider the purpose of evaluation, information needs and questions, stakeholders, and logistics. It’s important to be clear about why you’re doing an evaluation, what is being evaluated, and who is being evaluated. These considerations will help you develop your evaluation questions. It’s difficult to know what…
As we move closer to June 30th and look back on the 2023-24 fiscal year, we are so grateful for the hundreds of clients we have the pleasure to work alongside. About 6 months ago, we began to collaborate with law enforcement agencies and courts throughout California to support their Organized Retail Theft (ORT) Grant Program…