NPC has published research into new trends in charity measurement and evaluation practice. Key amongst them it is good to see user centric evaluation: asking users what they think about the service being provided and responding appropriately.
“There is an overarching theme of the importance of involving “participants” as evaluation designers, analysts, and active voices. This is important in and of itself… and a fundamental challenge to the “typical” power dynamics of evaluation.” Lucy Bernholz, Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society, quoted in the report.
The report also points out that improving technology allows for user voice to be captured easily and results processed quickly, meaning that programmes can be adapted mid cycle rather than waiting until the end, as in an old style evaluation.
Another key trend the report highlights is that of collaboration between organisations which allows for benchmarking and more meaningful evaluation as numbers increase.
Read the report here.