Grant makers will want to know how successful the program is, how effective it is in reaching its target goals, and how efficiently funds were used. Preparing an effective evaluation will also allow the grant seeker to make plans for the future.

The grant seeker should determine how to evaluate the project before the project is even started. Not only does this show the potential grant maker that the grant seeker is thinking ahead, it allows the grant-seeking organization to determine for itself what parts of the project are going well and what parts, if any, need to be changed. Finally, a proper evaluation process will show the community at large that the project is working and the grant seeker is doing its job right.

An evaluation permits all parties involved to know whether the original proposal did what it was supposed to do. It helps those overseeing the project to figure out if the methods set out in the grant were used and whether they worked properly. It allows those associated with the project to figure out if there was any impact on the need that the original proposal set out to address.

Additionally, an evaluation allows the organization to keep some control over the project and to make changes as necessary so that the project can be completed successfully.

Finally, an evaluation permits the organization to receive feedback from members of the population that the projects is designed to help, to see how well they feel their needs are being met.

Types of Evaluation Methods

Quantitative evaluation methods use techniques that allow data to be counted, measured, and compared objectively. This may include descriptive statistics, including averages, frequency distributions, and percentiles, or inferential statistics like simple linear progressions. Using such techniques, observers can determine whether a cause and effect relationship exists. They can also compare different kinds of methods.

Qualitative evaluation techniques are usually gathered through interviews, though direct observation, or by looking at documents. These methods permit observers to understand feelings and opinions of those associated with the project, to understand relationships between program participants, and to get multiple viewpoints in order to help understand the entire project.