evaluation what matters system
Learn the approach. Build the system. Grow over time.
The free guide is available now. The book and workbook are coming — and together they form a complete system for programs that want evaluation to do more than just satisfy a grant requirement.
The GUIDE
Start Here: A Practical Guide to Evaluating What Matters
Free — available now
Start Here: A Practical Guide to Evaluating What Matters
The free entry point to the Evaluate What Matters system
Most programs don't need a more complex evaluation system — they need a clearer starting point. This free 20-page guide gives you exactly that.
It walks you through the four things you need to know before you collect a single data point: what your program is trying to change, what outcomes are realistic to measure, what type of survey or feedback tool fits your situation, and what your funders, board, and team actually need from your data.
By the time you finish, you'll have a clear foundation for building an evaluation system that works for your program — and that you can run again next year without help.
WHAT'S INSIDE
- How to write a one-sentence description of what your program is trying to change
- A framework for identifying what outcomes are realistic to measure
- How to choose between an engagement anchor and an outcome anchor
- How to design a short, credible survey — including what to ask and what to skip
- How to calculate percent favorable and interpret your findings
- How to summarize your results for funders, boards, and your own team
- A ready-to-use sample student survey
- The evidence base behind this approach
The BOOK
Evaluate What Matters: A Practical Guide to Program Evaluation for Nonprofits
Coming soon
Evaluate What Matters: A Practical Guide to Program Evaluation for Nonprofits
The complete system — for program leaders who are ready to go beyond the basics
The free guide gets you started. The book teaches the full system.
Written for program directors and executive directors who are responsible for evaluation but were never formally trained in it, this book covers the complete evaluation cycle — from planning and data collection through analysis, reporting, and using findings to actually improve your program.
Grounded in evaluation research. Written in plain language. Built for real organizational conditions — not idealized ones.
WHAT THE BOOK ADDS THAT THE GUIDE DOESN'T COVER
- Pre/post survey design — how to measure how much participants grew from start to finish
- A complete question bank organized by outcome domain and respondent group
- Disaggregated analysis — how to look at findings across different participant groups
- How to report to funders in language that leads with outcomes and handles low scores honestly
- How to present data to boards and leadership teams in a way that informs real decisions
- Staff data conversations — how to use findings for genuine program improvement, not just documentation
- A practical program improvement framework — what to change, how to test it, how to know if it worked
- How to build a practice that compounds over time — so you're not starting from scratch each grant cycle
Want to know when it's available? I'll announce it to my mailing list first. Sign up for occasional evaluation tips and you'll be the first to hear.
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The WORKBOOK
Evaluate What Matters: The Workbook
Coming soon
Evaluate What Matters: The Workbook
The hands-on companion to the book — designed for filling in, not filing away
The book teaches the system. The workbook helps you run it.
21 templates, worksheets, and checklists that walk you through every stage of the evaluation cycle — from defining your primary outcome to presenting findings to your board. Designed for repeated use across program cycles, not just a one-time read.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Outcome identification worksheet
- Survey design templates for students, parents, and staff
- Data summary and analysis worksheets
- Funder report templates
- Board presentation blueprint
- Program improvement planning guide
- Includes a complete fillable PDF companion
Want to know when it's available? I'll announce it to my mailing list first. Sign up for occasional evaluation tips and you'll be the first to hear.
No more than one announcement email. Unsubscribe anytime.
HOW IT ALL FITS TOGETHER
The full system at a glance
One system. Four entry points.
Free guide
Learn the foundations. Understand what to measure and why.↓Available now
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Toolkits
Collect real data today. Ready-to-use surveys with reporting built in.↓Available now
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Book
Learn the full system — plan, collect, analyze, report, improve.↓Coming soon
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Workbook
Run the full system — 21 templates for every stage of the cycle.↓Coming soon