Doing Good? A critique of Outcome-Based Evaluation in Non-Profit Organizations

Emily Gates

Date of Award

2008

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Brain, David

Keywords

Non-Profit organizations, Evaluation, Accountability, Performance Measurement, Social Change, Outcome Measurement

Area of Concentration

Social Sciences

Abstract

Beginning in the late 1990s, many non-profit organizations began measuring the outcomes of their programs using the logic model framework. Reasons for implementing outcome-based evaluation include assessing the effectiveness of programs, demonstrating accountability, and improving programs. Two surveys of non-profit and funding agencies show that this practice is useful for the majority of non-profit organizations and that any obstacles to implementation are technical. However, many community-building non-profit organizations encounter model-based obstacles to using outcome-based evaluation. The current practice is based on the goal model of effectiveness and upwards accountability. The goal model of effectiveness frames the process of defining goals and assessing effectiveness as a rational methodology rather than political process. Upwards accountability neglects internal and downwards accountabilities and limits organizational learning. For this practice to be useful for community-building non-profits, the current practice needs to be modified to be more participatory and flexible.

Rights

This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.

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