Strategic Leadership and Management in Nonprofit Organizations by Golensky Martha; Hager Mark A.;

Author:Golensky, Martha; Hager, Mark A.;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Oxford University Press, Incorporated
Published: 2019-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

Forms of Evaluation

The numerous approaches to program evaluation range from the very formal to the fairly casual, from ones controlled by external stakeholders to others in which staff and even consumers participate in decision-making. Here we look at a selection of these approaches, chosen to show the variety in philosophy, intent, and implementation. Whole textbooks and even degree programs are dedicated to program evaluation.

External Validation

Many nonprofits see value in voluntarily seeking and receiving accreditation as “a way to ensure their own quality and to ensure that they are comparable to similar organizations in other places” (Ginsberg, 2001, p. 76). Accreditation may also be a condition for funding, or even for the legal right to provide services. Although accreditation touches on the entire organization, a substantial part of the evaluation is an examination of each program offered.

The process, which tends to be industry-specific and fee-based, usually begins with the organization completing a self-study consisting of a lengthy narrative and supporting documentation to show compliance with all the different standards. A site visit is typically scheduled so a review team can observe the operation, during which the top management team, frontline staff, clients, and sometimes other stakeholders may be interviewed. Subsequently, the applicant receives a preliminary report of the findings and may refute any claims of noncompliance on one or more standards. Following a period of negotiation, a final determination is made by the accrediting body. Accreditation is typically granted for a certain number of years, after which reaccreditation must be sought.

In similar fashion, licensing bodies (usually state government agencies) provide validation of an organization’s compliance with quality standards. The principal difference here is those nonprofits that must be licensed (such as nursing homes, foster care agencies, and daycare centers) cannot legally operate without this credential, and the review process is not voluntary.

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