Program Evaluation and Grant-Funded Services

Lesson 1 • Evaluation Within Grant-Funded Programs

Explains how funders mandate evaluation and how evaluation requirements shape program design. Connects foundational concepts directly to grant-funded service contexts.

Lesson 2 • Ethical Standards in Evaluation

Introduces professional ethical standards governing evaluator conduct, confidentiality, and fairness. Establishes non-negotiable principles applied throughout the course.

Lesson 3 • Defining Program Evaluation

Establishes what program evaluation is, why it exists, and who uses it. Grounds all subsequent evaluation work in shared terminology and purpose.

Lesson 1 • Building a Logic Model from Scratch

Applies component knowledge to construct a complete logic model for a real or simulated program. Produces a practitioner-ready artifact used in later evaluation planning.

Lesson 2 • Using Logic Models to Guide Evaluation

Demonstrates how a finalized logic model drives evaluation question development and indicator selection. Bridges program theory to measurable evaluation design.

Lesson 3 • Developing a Program Theory of Change

Guides construction of a theory of change that explains causal pathways from activities to impact. Strengthens the evaluative rationale behind program design.

Lesson 1 • Writing the Evaluation Plan

Structures all design decisions into a formal evaluation plan document meeting funder standards. Produces the primary deliverable for grant-funded evaluation compliance.

Lesson 2 • Sampling and Participant Selection

Covers probability and purposive sampling strategies appropriate for program evaluation contexts. Ensures data collection reaches the right participants for valid conclusions.

Lesson 3 • Selecting an Evaluation Design

Compares experimental, quasi-experimental, and non-experimental designs for feasibility and rigor. Guides appropriate design choice given real-world program constraints.

Lesson 1 • Quantitative Data Collection Tools

Covers surveys, administrative records, and standardized scales as quantitative instruments. Connects tool selection to the need for measurable, comparable outcome data.

Lesson 2 • Data Management and Protection

Establishes protocols for storing, organizing, and protecting participant data throughout the evaluation. Meets funder and ethical requirements for data security and confidentiality.

Lesson 3 • Culturally Responsive Data Collection

Adapts instruments and procedures to serve diverse participant populations equitably. Reduces measurement bias and improves data quality across cultural contexts.

Lesson 4 • Instrument Development and Validation

Guides the process of writing, testing, and refining data collection instruments for reliability and validity. Ensures instruments produce trustworthy data before full deployment.

Lesson 1 • Visualizing Quantitative Findings

Teaches chart and graph selection for communicating numeric results to diverse audiences. Effective visualization increases stakeholder understanding and use of evaluation data.

Lesson 2 • Descriptive Statistics for Program Data

Applies measures of central tendency, variability, and frequency to summarize program outputs and outcomes. Descriptive results form the baseline narrative of any evaluation report.

Lesson 3 • Inferential Statistics in Evaluation

Introduces hypothesis testing, t-tests, chi-square, and regression for evaluating program effects. Enables evidence-based conclusions about whether programs produce intended changes.

Lesson 1 • Ensuring Rigor in Qualitative Analysis

Applies trustworthiness criteria including credibility, transferability, and confirmability to qualitative work. Rigor strategies defend findings against stakeholder skepticism.

Lesson 2 • Thematic Analysis Techniques

Guides the process of grouping codes into themes that answer evaluation questions. Themes become the core narrative structure of qualitative evaluation findings.

Lesson 3 • Coding Qualitative Data

Teaches deductive and inductive coding strategies for identifying patterns in qualitative data. Coding transforms raw text into structured, analyzable units of meaning.

Lesson 1 • Presenting Findings to Stakeholders

Prepares evaluators to deliver oral presentations and facilitate discussion of evaluation results. Effective presentation skills increase stakeholder buy-in and program improvement action.

Lesson 2 • Structuring the Evaluation Report

Defines the standard components of a formal evaluation report and their logical sequence. A well-structured report enables funders and program staff to act on findings.

Lesson 3 • Dissemination and Knowledge Sharing

Covers strategies for sharing evaluation findings beyond the immediate funder relationship. Broad dissemination amplifies program learning and contributes to the field.

Lesson 4 • Data Visualization in Reports

Integrates charts, infographics, and tables into narrative reports for clarity and engagement. Visual elements must accurately represent data without distorting findings.

Lesson 1 • Progress and Interim Reporting

Covers the structure and content of interim progress reports required by funders at regular intervals. Timely, accurate interim reports maintain funder trust and grant standing.

Lesson 2 • Understanding Grant Requirements

Decodes funder evaluation requirements embedded in grant agreements and notice of funding documents. Accurate interpretation prevents compliance failures and reporting gaps.

Lesson 3 • Using Evaluation for Program Improvement

Applies evaluation findings to continuous quality improvement within the grant period. Closes the loop between data collection and program decision-making for sustained impact.

Lesson 4 • Performance Measurement Systems

Builds systems for tracking performance measures continuously across the grant period. Ongoing measurement enables timely course corrections and accurate progress reporting.