Program Evaluation Practice in the Nonprofit Sector

Abstract Nonprofit organizations are increasingly being asked to demonstrate the effectiveness of their programs and services. Faced with this challenge, agencies that decide to engage in program evaluation must choose among various approaches and methods. This article provides a window into why and how nonprofit organizations are conducting program evaluations, and it reveals the factors nonprofit agencies identify as contributing to a useful and credible evaluation. In addition, the article addresses the role of stakeholder participation in program evaluation.