Measuring Success: Choosing the Right Evaluation Method for Your New Nonprofit Program
In the competitive landscape of nonprofit funding, where resources are scarce and donor expectations are high, effectively evaluating nonprofit program success is essential for sustainability and growth. According to recent surveys, approximately 70% of nonprofits struggle to demonstrate measurable impact, often because they select inappropriate evaluation approaches that fail to capture the full picture of program performance. This article explores nonprofit program evaluation methods, focusing on three key frameworks — goal-based, process-based, and outcomes-based — to help organizations choose the right tools for assessing new initiatives.