Successful Program Evaluation: Hiring an Evaluator

by Richard Hoefer

A host of books and materials already exist for training program evaluators. This manuscript doesn’t aim to do that. In fact, it addresses just one question that is very important to nonprofit managers and executive How do I hire a program evaluator?We cover all aspects of this decision, •Who is an evaluator?•Why do you need an evaluator?•What qualifications should you look for in an evaluator?•How you can find candidates?•What should be in a contract with the evaluator?In the Appendix, there is a checklist for hiring an evaluator so that nothing is missed in making this important decision. This manuscript contains the following •The surprising answer to "Who is an evaluator?"•4 general reasons you need an evaluator.•9 specific ways an evaluator can help you and your nonprofit agency.•5 ways properly researched and documented positive evaluation outcomes can be re-purposed to bring in additional funding and good will for your agency.•4 areas of qualifications you must examine before hiring an evaluator.•Is there a "best degree" that a candidate must have to be a competent evaluator?•12 ways an inexperienced evaluator can cost your agency money, time and reputation.•What you must train yourself to do as you read recommendation letters for candidates when you hire an evaluator.•7 interview questions to use with every evaluator candidate--these will let you spot the good ones from the posers.•5 additional areas to assess when interviewing potential evaluators--if the candidate doesn't rank high on these, hiring them would spell disaster.•6 ways to find candidates for your evaluator job, complete with pros and cons to each technique.•The best way to increase the pool of candidates for your position.•Why turning to your local university for students or faculty may not be your best approach to hiring an evaluator--and then again, why you may find your best candidates there. It all depends on how you approach the task.•5 items that MUST be in any contract you sign with an evaluator.•What mistake you can make that can get your organization, its director and board, and the evaluator in very serious trouble with the Federal Government. This information alone is worth the small price of the manuscript.In addition to the 20+ pages that comprehensively answer the question "How do I hire a program evaluator?" an Appendix has been developed providing a 2-page checklist, with 18 questions covering the important material in the manuscript. You can simply follow the questions with each evaluator candidate to have an easily reviewable summary of each person's strengths and weaknesses as you seek to hire an evaluator.

29 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 13, 2012

About the author

Richard Alan Hoefer