Program Evaluation

Many people feel their blood pressure rise when they hear the word “evaluation,” associating it with exams, employee reviews, and other stress-provoking activities. But we view program evaluation as a learning opportunity that can be exciting and even fun. Evaluation gives executives and program managers a chance to step back from their daily work; reflect on their goals, strategies, and underlying assumptions; and find out what is working and how improvements can be made. Evaluation can help clients understand implementation processes, track progress toward desired outcomes, and elevate the voices of grantees and other stakeholders. Not least, evaluation can help clarify and sharpen strategic thinking.

Ed Wilson has more than 30 years of experience designing and conducting program evaluations for philanthropies, NGOs, research centers, and government agencies. Some recent projects include:
• an assessment of a major foundation's work in the emerging field of planetary health;
• an evaluation of a synthesis center that supports transdisciplinary research on environmental challenges;
• evaluations of large-scale conservation efforts in the US, Canada and Australia;
• evaluations of grant programs to protect and restore watersheds in the Great Lakes region and the Delaware River basin; and
• an assessment of a program that brings together world-class scientists, philosophers, and theologians to discuss "big questions."