Improving Programs

This inventory provides a framework for thinking about the choices available to an agency, ministry or organisation that wants to experiment.

We need to collectively move from insufficient understanding to more authentic truth. The stakes are too high for us to do otherwise.

By approaching evidence building as an ongoing process instead of the all-too-common "one study at a time" approach, practitioners avoid delayed findings and constrained adaptations.

One of the most important, but underutilized steps in moving toward a data driven results metric is listening. Both to the needs of the community your organization serves, and to the needs to the staff looking to provide better services.

This insightful post by Jonathan Levene gives practitioners the tools they need to cut through the clutter and get down to business.

Evaluation should serve as the research and development component of nonprofit organizations, continually testing and improving services delivered to achieve greater benefit for the clients served.

The National Institute for Children's Health Quality online course in the fundamentals of quality improvement and how to use this methodology to create effective, beneficial change. The course is just the beginning for creating a real culture of change that fosters improvement for all.

The Center for Theory of Change provides a solid definition of the Theory of Change and its critical importance to evidence gathering.

The seven attributes that communities need to effectively use data to evolve, from Community Information Now, a nonprofit serving communities in Texas.

*"Most organizations collect data, but only those agencies with learning cultures regularly make time to review their data, reflect on what they find, and make timely changes to improve or innovate."* Leap Ambassadors provides tools to assess and transform your organization's learning culture.

An in-depth look at dashboard development, focusing especially on finding the right metrics

This guide is a deep dive into implementation markers – what they are and how to set, collect, reflect on and use them. Originally intended for Hewlett Foundation staff, other foundations and grantees may find it useful as well.

Leap of Reason Ambassadors Community offers tools for self assessment of performance practice to help nonprofits and their funders drive organizational performance improvement.