Evaluation 101 – Foundations for Practice

What is evaluation actually for—learning, accountability, or both or something more? What is working for whom, in what context and why as a result of your work? How does evaluation support organizational decision-making and your organization’s mission?

Why this course matters:
 Evaluation shapes culture whether we intend it to or not. This course helps people see evaluation as a shared learning practice—one that influences what gets noticed, discussed, and acted on every day.

Evaluation shapes organizational culture whether we intend it to or not. What we measure, question, and report influences what people pay attention to—and what gets ignored. This course positions evaluation as a shared learning practice rather than a compliance exercise. By strengthening evaluation literacy and building confidence in asking meaningful questions, participants help their organizations make better decisions, learn more intentionally, and align daily work with mission and impact. When evaluation becomes a tool for collective sensemaking, it strengthens accountability while also supporting long-term systems change.