To be rescheduled: From Proposal to Final Report

We’ve all been there: a final report is due to a major funder, and we learn from program staff, at the last minute, that the well-reasoned and insightful evaluation plan included in the original proposal has not been implemented. We scramble to find some kind of information on outcomes and impact that is suitable to the purposes of the grant, but we fall seriously short. What can we, as grant-writing professionals, do to avoid these stress-producing situations? This presentation addresses two topics that can help in meeting two common challenges related to impact measurement: proposing a realistic and streamlined evaluation plan that is more likely to be implemented and developing strategies that engage program staff in following the plans submitted to funders. Attendees will come away with at least one idea to improve evaluation practices from the initial proposal to the final report.