ALA Home  Outcomes-Based Evaluation

Volume24, Number 4, 2002

Outcomes-Based Evaluation: Find out More about It

Web Resources

Independent Sector, http://www.independentsector.org/pathfinder/impact/index.html offers pointers to resources and guides.

InnoNet, http://www.innonet.org provides online tools to assist organizations in planning and evaluating their services and programs.

Perspectives on Outcome Based Evaluation for Libraries and Museums, www.imls.gov/pubs/pdf/pubobe.pdf describes reasons for the Institute of Museums and Library Service's strong interest in documenting the important work they support. Includes several examples of successful outcomes-based evaluations and offers a complete online and print bibliography.

United Way of America's Outcome Measurement Resource Network, The United Way's outcomes-based evaluation methods have been adopted by IMLS and many foundations and other organizations.

Print Resources

Bond, Sally L., Boyd, Sally E., and Rapp, Kathleen A. (1997). Taking Stock: A Practical Guide to Evaluating your own Programs. Chapel Hill, N.C.: Horizon Research, Inc., 111 Cloister Court, Suite 220, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, 919-489-1725 ($25.00, pb). This manual was developed for community-based science education initiatives through funding from the DeWitt Wallace-Readers Digest Fund. Available via Acrobat PDF at http://www.horizon-research.com/publications/stock.pdf.

Carson, Emmett D. "On foundations and outcome evaluation," Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, vol. 29 (September 2000).

Easterling, Doug. "Using outcome evaluation to guide grant making: theory, reality, and possibilities," Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, vol. 29 (September 2000).

Institute of Museum and Library Services (1999). Outcome-Based Evaluation for IMLS-Funded Projects for Libraries and Museums. Contact Karen Motylewski, Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20560, 202-606-5551, e-mail Karen. This brief introduction for IMLS grantees and proposers uses examples from library and museum contexts. Available on request in paper or electronic versions.

Mika, Kristine L. (1996). Program Outcome Evaluation: A Step-by-Step Handbook. Milwaukee, WI: Families International, Inc., 11700 West Lake Park Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53224 ($13.95, pb,). Available from commercial booksellers.

Project STAR. Support and Training for Assessing Results. San Mateo, CA: Project Star, 480 E. 4th Ave., Unit A, San Mateo, CA 94401-3349, 1-800-548-3656. A basic manual for outcome-based evaluation produced by Project STAR under contract to the Corporation for National Service. Available via Rich Text Format or Acrobat PDF at www.projectstar.org.

United Way of America (1996). Measuring Program Outcomes: A Practical Approach. Alexandria, VA: United Way of America, 701 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, 703-836-7100 ($5.00, spiral bound, to not-for-profit organizations). Developed by United Way for its grantees, this manual led the movement to outcome-based evaluation by funders of not-for-profit organizations. See http://national.unitedway.org/ for other pertinent United Way publications, some available via Acrobat PDF or Rich Text Format.

W.K. Kellogg Foundation Evaluation Handbook (January 1998). Available via Acrobat PDF at http://www.wkkf.org/pubs/Pub770.pdf as of July 6, 2000.

PC Magazine has published reviews ("Editor's Choice," February 8, 2000) of software tools for Web-based surveys that some programs may find useful.

Sage Publications, 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320, 805-499-0721 is a commercial publisher that specializes in publications on evaluation and related subjects. They offer many titles that cover aspects of evaluation in detail.