Resources
This resource helps you match an external evaluator to your needs through a set of practical steps, prompts, and tips.
Focusing on supporting not-for-profits, foundations and their partners the document guides you through the process of engaging an external evaluator in clear steps:
- Preparing to work with an evaluator
- Know your purpose and audience
- Distinguishing between research and evaluation
- Choosing an evaluation approach that serves your purpose
- Assess your readiness
- Assess the need to outsource
- Choosing an evaluator
- Look for technical expertise, and then look beyond it
- Developing the evaluation plan
- Right-size the project and your expectations
- Plan and budget for knowledge sharing
- Building authentic partnership
- Expect your evaluator to seek your input
- Treat your evaluator as a mission-critical partner
Sources
S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation. (2018). Hiring an external evaluator. Retrieved from: https://sdbjrfoundation.org/effectiveness/consultants/