Strong programs are indicative of strong organizations
We are all striving to effect change in one way or another: change in the way social problems are addressed and/or change in the lives of the constituents we serve. How will we know when we have succeeded?
Over the last several years, evaluation has become one of the main priorities for funders, and for good reasons. Evaluation is informative; funders want to know:
- What did the program do?
- How well was it done?
- What difference did it make?
Organizations that have the answers to these questions are able to make informed decisions and create significant change in the communities they serve.
Informed Results | Stronger Programs
The concept is simple. SuccessLinks grew out of the realization that organizations that engage in program evaluation are given the tools and information needed to make better decisions about their work. This leads to stronger programs, which eventually leads to better outcomes and more funding.
Evaluation informs and having knowledge and information is linked to success. To evaluate and measure social impact, organizations need to draw on the same creative and critical thinking skills used to launch their programs. It’s the organization’s vision—so they have to define their own success. The basis for success is the outcomes or expected changes that organizations and their programs have on clients, communities, systems or organizations.