My name is Susana Bonis, and I am an advanced graduate student at Claremont Graduate University. I work with small to mid-size nonprofit organizations in fundraising, strategic planning, and evaluation. Most of the organizations I work with focus on outcome measurement, and many are looking to develop their own internal evaluation capacity. I introduce nearly all of them to logic models, and how they can be used. The two resources I will highlight are “oldies but goodies”– they offer straightforward definitions, plenty of examples, and useful tools and worksheets; there’s no need to reinvent the wheel!
Rad Resource: W. K. Kellogg Foundation guide to developing a logic model. The guide describes what a logic model is and how it can be used to direct evaluation efforts. Fictitious examples help readers understand the processes of both developing a logic model and using it to frame evaluation questions. Helpful tips are provided for establishing indicators to measure success. The appendix offers logic model templates and checklists of important things to consider when constructing each part of the model. Hard copies are available in English and Spanish. http://bit.ly/WKKFoundationLMguide
Rad Resource: The United Way’s Measuring Program Outcomes predates the Kellogg guide. This is a step-by-step manual for health, human service, and youth- and family-serving agencies focused on specifying program outcomes, developing measurable indicators, identifying data sources and data collection methods, analyzing and reporting findings, and using outcome information. It can be ordered for $5 (includes shipping and handling) from http://bit.ly/UW-OMRN.
This contribution is from the aea365 Daily Tips blog, by and for evaluators, from the American Evaluation Association. Please consider contributing – send a note of interest to aea365@eval.org.
Susan,
Thanks so much for reminding us of these classic resources – truly valuable and widely used.
Do you find one or the other to have a clearer explanation for the beginner? For whom would you suggest that it is worth the $5 United Way purchase for the second rather than the free download from Kellogg?
A couple of other resources include:
The Advocacy Progress Planner (APP): This online tool helps users create logic models to aid in planning and evaluating advocacy programs. I spoke with representatives for the developer and funder for this planner yesterday and they’re going to hold a free (for members) demonstration of it in Link to the APP:
http://www.planning.continuousprogress.org/
Link to Demonstration Registration:
http://comm.eval.org/EVAL/coffee_break_webinars/Home/Default.aspx
DoView 2.0 Software (APP): See Paul Duignan’s 1/5 post http://aea365.org/blog/?p=52
And, don’t miss Ann Marie Isbell’s 1/26 post for more logic model resources: http://aea365.org/blog/?p=142