Internal Evaluation in Non-Profit Organisations: Practitioner Perspectives on Theory, Research, and Practice

by Leanne M. Kelly, Alison Rogers

Overview

Focused on the interpersonal aspects of internal evaluation in non-profit organisations, this book presents practice-based discussions centred on six key topics identified through the authors’ experience as evaluation practitioners.

Internal Evaluation in Non-Profit Organisations: Practitioner Perspectives on Theory, Research, and Practice is not a step-by-step how-to guide; instead, each chapter unpacks an aspect of internal evaluation in non-profits that is paid insufficient heed in the existing literature. Written by and for internal evaluation practitioners, the book contains a plethora of practical strategies and critical analysis of thought-provoking topics that are of particular interest and importance to internal evaluators in non-profit settings. The authors understand the pressures facing practitioners and non-profit organisations and share their insights around improving evaluation’s ability to be efficient, embedded, useful, and meaningful.

This book will be of interest to researchers, scholars, and students focusing on non-profit management and will hold specific value for internal evaluators who want to harness their unique and influential position to help organisations achieve their goals. Further, this book is ideal for individuals wanting to think critically about evaluation and improve evaluation utilisation by developing their professional capability, building teamwork skills, using informal everyday data, incorporating theory, and developing fruitful relationships with external evaluators.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781032023489
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	01/29/2024
Series:	Routledge Studies in the Management of Voluntary and Non-Profit Organizations
Pages:	174
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Leanne M. Kelly currently holds a postdoctoral research fellowship at Deakin University and is an internal evaluator at the Australian Red Cross.

Alison Rogers is an evaluation consultant and scholar affiliated with the University of Melbourne's Centre for Program Evaluation, Australia.

Table of Contents

1. Internal evaluators: An influential position 2. Professional development for internal evaluators 3. Practical strategies for building interpersonal skills 4. Informal everyday evaluation for organisational change and improvement 5. Using theory, research, and practice to evaluate effectiveness 6. Internal and external evaluators working collaboratively 7. Increasing evaluation use 8. Internal evaluation enhances organisational effectiveness

Editorial Reviews

"The co-authors—two incredibly thoughtful internal evaluators—present an extensive set of practical ideas to enhance evaluation practice in non-profit organizations. Building on their own practice and on an understanding of the scholarly literature that grounds internal evaluation, they have produced a highly usable guide that will enable other evaluators to build evaluation capacity both for themselves and for their organizations. I am eager to use this book in my own work." Jean A. King, Professor Emerita, Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development/Minnesota Evaluation Studies Institute, USA

"In an era where internal evaluation is gaining unprecedented relevance in non-profit organisations, this guide addresses a niche yet important topic, notably understated in evaluation literature." Auzan Rama Satria, Faculty of Psychology, University of Indonesia; International Society for Third-Sector Research

Chapter Endorsements

"It felt really nice to be reading something that speaks so directly to where I am at in the early stages of my evaluation journey. It has given me some useful food for thought." Kate Baker, Evaluation Project Manager, HealthWest (Chapter 2)

"These uniquely practical guidelines and reflections are essential to read" Phyo Pyae Thida (Sophia) Htwe, Community Development Evaluator, GraceWorks Myanmar (Chapter 2)

"What a complete joy to read this!" Yoland Wadsworth, Professor (Hon), RMIT University, Australia, and author of the best-selling Everyday Evaluation on the Run

"The content shows the value of combining research, theory and practice, and the importance of NGOs actively contributing to global understandings by sharing knowledge through publications. Genius!" Stephanie Harrison, Evaluation Consultant, Pandanus Evaluation (Chapter 5)

"I was actually quite inspired to use theory more in my work after reading it!" Catherine Malla, Knowledge Management Advisor, The Fred Hollows Foundation (Chapter 5)

"This chapter addresses an important topic – the need for all evaluators, not just internal evaluators working in the NFP sector, to do much better at integrating theory/research with practice when planning, conducting and using evaluations." Brad Astbury, Director, ARTD Consultants (Chapter 5)

"This is a great practical resource with valuable lessons learnt for guiding how external and internal evaluators can combine their expertise together to conduct evaluations in non-profits." Kathryn Dinh, Director, Lotus Evaluation (Chapter 6)

"A practical and useful guide on how to think about utilisation and apply this to data collection and evaluations. Working in M&E in a large organisation with varying knowledge and skills around evaluation utilisation, I found this incredibly helpful!" Lauren Lombardi, National Monitoring and Evaluation Lead, Emergency Services, Australian Red Cross (Chapter 7)

"I think I've had an epiphany! This was so well written, enjoyable and reaffirming." Marcia Nawar, Program Quality State Lead (NSW/ACT), Australian Red Cross (Chapter 7)

From the Publisher