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Session Title: Put That in Writing: Communicating Evaluation Results in a Way That Promotes Learning and Use
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Panel Session 821 to be held in D'Alesandro Room on Saturday, November 10, 1:50 PM to 3:20 PM
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Sponsored by the Non-profit and Foundations Evaluation TIG
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| Chair(s): |
| Toni Freeman,
The Duke Endowment,
tfreeman@tde.org
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| Abstract:
This session will address the importance of evaluators and foundations working together to effectively present and report information. Knowledge management is playing a more significant role for foundations and nonprofits as is presenting and reporting useful evaluation products. This session will address three emerging issues regarding evaluation reporting -- communicating evaluation results with the audience in mind, developing quality evaluation products in a timely way to maximize their usefulness, and clarifying the ownership of evaluation data and reports. The panelists will also discuss how evaluators and foundation staff can work together to produce products that meet their respective standards and create learning communities of practice.
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Communicating Evaluation Results With Your Audience in Mind
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| David Scheie,
Touchston Center for Collaborative Inquiry,
dscheie@tcq.net
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It is important to be clear about the intended audience(s) for the evaluation. The earlier in the process that can be identified the better. Report length, wording and level of technical information must be tailored to the audience. Someone may be aware that materials should be addressed to particular audiences, but not know how to do it. David will address the elements or qualities entailed in writing to different audiences and discuss ways evaluation can create learning communities of practice. Prior to founding Touchstone, David worked 17 years on staff at Rainbow Research, Inc. He has a strong commitment to creating evaluation reports that help advance the work, which requires clarity about the intended audience for the evaluation.
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Some Things Just Happen: Writing Isn't one of Them
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| Mary Grcich Williams,
Lumina Foundation for Education,
mwilliams@luminafoundation.org
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Writing is a time consuming process, and that fact may not always be recognized in planning and budgeting. Sometimes report quality suffers if the evaluator's timeline does not accommodate editing and re-crafting. Mary will discuss how to integrate evaluation reports with communication pieces that will emerge from the report, including drafts and final product. She will also discuss how evaluators and professional communicators can work together to produce a product that meets the quality standards of both fields. As part of her role as a foundation evaluation director, Mary routinely works with grantees, program officers and communicators to produce evaluation products that address multiple needs. Previously, she operated her own evaluation consulting practice and served as director of a state educational division.
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Who Owns Your Evaluation Report?
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| Toni Freeman,
The Duke Endowment,
tfreeman@tde.org
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As an emerging field, foundations and evaluators face numerous questions about the ownership of evaluation data and reports, such as: Who 'owns' a report? What language could be included in grant agreements/engagement to clarify ownership? What policies make sense and are fair to the evaluator and the grant making organization? What ethical and legal issues are involved with translating reports into other communications products? Toni will discuss these issues and share examples of reporting policies regarding evaluator(s) use of the data as well. Toni has led the evaluation efforts at the foundation since 1999. She routinely conducts searches for evaluators and manages projects involving various evaluation methods and products. Two of her greatest challenges have been finding the right evaluator for a project and working with consultants on evaluation reports. Previously, Toni served in an executive position responsible for reporting organizational results to varied stakeholders, including elected officials.
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