Discovering.... the promise within
Embracing..... the promise as an expression of possibility
Assessment & Evaluation
M.L. Gaylor Consulting believes in the importance of Assessment and Evaluation and therefore includes in its menu of consulting opportunities assessment and evaluation in the following domains:
We believe that there is a difference, albeit sometimes subtle, between Assessment and Evaluation. From our perspective Assessment is designed to look at Process while Evaluation is designed to look at Impact.
Engagement of M. L. Gaylor Consulting in Assessment and Evaluation will aid your organization in creating and implementing a strategy for:
-
Re-engineering and refining organizational processes
-
Re-designing service platforms and program applications
Organizational Assessment and Evaluation
Organization Focused
In delivering Organizational Assessment and Evaluation, M.L. Gaylor Consulting focuses on the following domains of interest (See Image):
-
External Environment
-
Organizational Motivation
-
Organizational Performance
-
Organizational Capacity
Governance Focused
We engage organizations in assessment and evaluation of Governance Processes through the use of a Governance Audit instrument. This instrument yields data relating to the following broad areas of governance:
-
Foundational Elements of Governance
-
Legal and Financial
-
Management & Leadership
-
Planning & Evaluation
-
Human Resources
-
Fund Development
Subsequent to the Assessment and Evaluation, M.L. Gaylor Consulting is available to provide coaching and/or training and development for the organization's leadership. These services are designed to highlight and strengthen and the organization's assets and address organizational opportunities for growth and development.
Individual and Group Assessment and Evaluation
M. L. Gaylor Consulting proudly offers the following services relative to Individual and Group Assessment and Evaluation:
-
Universal Training Needs Assessment
Dr. Gaylor has an advanced degree in instructional design which includes conducting training needs assessments. These assessments identify the training needs for staff and and both executive and voluntary leadership.
-
Communications and Assets Assessment
Dr. Michael Gaylor is a certified DISC Trainer and Consultant. Through the administration of this instrument work can be done to improve communication processes throughout the organization.
M. L. Gaylor Consulting focuses on an individual's strengths rather than liabilities. Consequently, as much training and development effort is devoted to enhancing the individual's strengths and bringing those strengths to the forefront in their work. The Strengths Finder instrument is used to accomplish this work.
-
Governance Assessment and Evaluation
Nonprofit boards have much to gain from board self-evaluations. The results of the evaluations should offer board directors both tangible and intangible value, and it’s important to look at both.
Board evaluations conducted by M. L. Gaylor Consulting are designed to reveal how the board is performing collectively and individually, assess their progress toward moving into the future and improve relationships with each other so that they can collectively do their work to the best of their abilities.
These assessments..
-
Spark intrigue about their understanding of their roles and responsibilities;
-
Refresh and clarify their roles;
-
Highlight important areas of board operation that need attention or improvement;
-
Assess the board’s progress toward existing plans, goals and objectives
-
Provide the board with opportunities to define the criteria against which they define their own success;
-
Aid in shaping the future structure of the board and the organization’s operations;
-
Assist in building mutual trust and respect;
-
Improve communication among board members, the executive director and the staff and help everyone to work effectively as a team
This work is accomplished through the use of the following assessment instruments:
-
Board Meeting Observation Instrument
-
Board of Directors Assessment Instrument - Collective
-
Board Member Assessment Instrument
Program Assessment and Evaluation.
When nonprofits, regardless of their size, contemplate undertaking program evaluation, they often feel overwhelmed. Too often we assume program evaluation requires lots of time and money that smaller organizations simply don’t have. But, nonprofit program evaluation doesn’t need to be intensive to be valuable. Simply put, program evaluation is nothing more than a systematic method for collecting, analyzing, and using information to answer basic questions about a program.
We believe that there are many good reasons why organizations should pursue program assessment and evaluation. Here are five...
1) Replicate and Scale Your Impact
A strong focus on nonprofit program evaluation gives you the tools you need to replicate and scale successful programs. For some organizations, that might mean expanding programs (with that increase in funding your evaluation helped you capture!). For others, it may give you the tools you need to inspire and lead other organizations to replicate your success in their own communities. Regardless of how and where you replicate and scale your impact, sharing critical findings from your program evaluation adds knowledge and power to the community of change-makers. That means you don’t have to be a big organization to become a true thought leader in your field. You simply have to focus on program evaluation and be willing to share what you learn.
2) Improve Outcomes & Efficiency
An effective nonprofit program evaluation helps you to identify what works and what doesn’t. That knowledge empowers program managers to focus on the essential components of your program model that most benefit participants. It also allows them to fine tune program design and delivery to maximize outcomes. At the same time, being able to adapt, improve or eliminate program elements that do not contribute to success saves valuable resources.
3) Drive Positive Culture Change
While certainly passion and commitment are critical to nonprofit success, they are only one piece of the puzzle. Lasting success and impact requires a commitment to ongoing evaluation and assessment. We have to support what works, but we also have to be willing to explore how we can do better. Focusing on nonprofit program evaluation helps shift your organizational culture away from the reliance on strong personalities or passion towards data-driven decision making that recognizes and supports what works, no matter who voices the ideas.
4) Expand Community Partnerships
Sharing your nonprofit program evaluation data can be a great way to attract volunteers and community partnerships. Just as funders want to support successful organizations, other nonprofits, government agencies, and local businesses are excited to work with nonprofits that can drive real change in their communities.
5) Attract More Funding
From foundation grants to major donors, funders want to support programs that can demonstrate impact. They want to invest in programs that know how to drive positive outcomes. Stories and anecdotes can give a human face to your success, but to be truly powerful they need to be backed by concrete data.
M. L. Gaylor Consulting will guide your nonprofit through a process of program evaluation. An evaluation plan will be crafted to reflect the evaluaton needs of the organization and consequently will use different tools and instruments depending on the organization's needs. Although we have experience with many models of evaluation, our focus is primarily on...
-
Results-Based Accountability; and
-
Logic Model Driven Assessment
