New Book Shows Nonprofits Creative Ways to Use Evaluation Findings

Don't underestimate the power of your nonprofit's evaluation findings. "Information Gold Mine" gives concrete examples of nonprofits that have effectively used their evaluation data for marketing, influencing policy, and much more.

St. Paul, Minnesota (PRWEB) June 4, 2007 -- Traditional use of evaluation---for improving service quality---is well known. However, nonprofits have only scratched the surface when it comes to using evaluation findings as a tool for public relations, educating consumers, influencing policy, and boosting staff morale.

A new guide from Fieldstone Alliance (formerly Wilder Publishing Center) highlights 14 nonprofits that have used program evaluation in exciting, creative ways. "Information Gold Mine" was written with the hope that the stories of these nonprofit will inspire more organizations to use program evaluation, as well as other forms of applied research, to accomplish tasks that will increase their strength and their impacts.

The authors present five examples of using evaluation for improving services, five examples of influencing policy, and four examples of marketing a program.

Each example includes

- Specific changes organizations made based on evaluation findings

- Barriers they faced and how they overcame them

- Practical advice including their most important learning and what would they have done differently

Readers will also find lists of specific questions to ask if they want to improve services, influence policy and legislation, or market a program.

"Information Gold Mine" gives non-technicians such as service delivery practitioners, program designers, and managers the opportunity to learn from real-life experiences of their nonprofit colleagues---people who understand the realities of work in nonprofit and government service organizations.

"This book is critically needed. The stories are inspiring and will encourage many nonprofit leaders to use evaluation more effectively--beyond accountability and program development," says Peter York, Vice President of the TCC Group.

About the Authors

PAUL W. MATTESSICH, Ph.D., is director of Wilder Research in St. Paul, Minnesota. Mattessich has assisted local, national, and international organizations with strategic planning, organizational improvement, and evaluation. Mattessich is the author or coauthor of more than two hundred publications and reports. He received his Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Minnesota.

SHELLY HENDRICKS M.P.P., worked as a research associate at Wilder Research supporting evaluators on various research projects. She received her bachelor's degree from McPherson College and her master's degree in public policy from the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute at the University of Minnesota. Hendricks currently works as a community organizer for a neighborhood association in Minneapolis.

ROSS VELURE ROHOLT, Ph.D., is the action research officer for Public Achievement Northern Ireland. In this role, Ross has conducted annual internal evaluations and managed several external evaluations on different programmatic initiatives supported by the organization. He received his Ph.D. in education from the University of Minnesota.

How to Order

Order online from Fieldstone Alliance at www.FieldstoneAlliance.org. Or, call toll-free at 1.800.274.6024.

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