When should you start your evaluation?

When should you start your evaluation? Let’s start at the very beginning……. a very good place to start.

Do you now hear Julie Andrews singing in your ear? Sorry for that ear worm.

A question I sometimes get asked is “When should I start my evaluation?”

As the song goes, ideally, at the very beginning of your community initiative.

Unfortunately, that almost never happens ☹.

Can we be honest here? Most evaluations only happen when it’s required.

But here is the interesting thing I have noticed, if I can help a coalition, a nonprofit, or a foundation to get curious about their work, to ask good questions, and get their hands on their own data, magic happens.

They get excited about the possibilities of doing better and telling their data story.

That first step is the hardest.

This has me thinking about the 5+ mile hike my son and I did to the Little Agnes Teahouse in Banff last week. Lord, the elevation gain. But we did it. So glad I put my foot on the trail.

No matter where you are on the merry-go-round, let’s get you started. There is never a bad time to start.

The mistake is not the beginning at all.

By the way, have you checked out my new and improved Nonprofit Evaluation Capacity Self-Assessment Tool? It will help you identify your organization’s strengths and weaknesses.