Program Evaluation

Rochester Effectiveness Partnership (REP)

The Rochester Effectiveness Partnership was a vibrant, multi-year (1996-2003), collaborative partnership that provided in-depth training and hands-on experience in participatory evaluation for non-profit practitioners and funders in Rochester, New York. The Partnership was founded on a focused commitment to bring together diverse perspectives that shared a common goal – to deliver the best possible services to clients, a laudable goal, but one that has long created frustration for non profit professionals and funders alike as they struggle to secure useful program evaluations. The Partnership was based on the premise that:

  • participatory evaluation is a practical management tool that can be taught and can help organizations evaluate and make decisions about their programs on the basis of meaningful data,
  • nonprofit providers and funders could work together as equal partners toward commonly defined outcomes, assessing the impact of the initiative annually was critical to its evolution.

Cited from Bruner Foundation.

As a member of REP, Wendy:

  • Completed over 30 hours of classroom evaluation training
  • Developed and implemented a number of agency program evaluations including development of evaluation tools
  • Provided poster & written presentations of projects
  • Participated in activities to ripple evaluation thought

Evaluative Thinking in Organizations Study (EthOS)

In January, 2003, the Bruner Foundation began a year-long interactive project to study and document the relationship between the use of evaluative thinking skills and overall organizational effectiveness in 11 nonprofit service provider organizations which had been a part of the Rochester Effectiveness Partnership (REP). These organizations were of varying size and provided a wide array of services to clients in Rochester, NY. The two criteria for participation were successful completion of REP training and a commitment to participate from the CEO and at least one program staff members.

Beyond REP & Ethos, Wendy has continued to participate in evaluation round tables, program evaluations and community outcome development.

Special projects include:

  • Self Help group evaluation project
  • State-wide advocacy survey for the National MS Society MS CAN
  • Development of Long Term Care Needs Assessment tool
  • Information & Referral program evaluation
  • Development of Program outcome measures
  • United Way report completion (for 7 different United Ways)
  • Used evaluation results in Grant Writing, Annual report, client education, reports to board of directors and with public policy and advocacy initiatives.
  • Created survey tools and completed Parish Liturgy Evaluation.