Teaching Paper: Assessment Plan Worksheets – Structuring Non-Profit Evaluation for Clarity and Accountability

Impact assessment is essential for demonstrating accountability, improving program design, and securing funding in the non-profit sector. Yet many organizations struggle to plan assessments systematically, often relying on ad-hoc methods. This Teaching Paper introduces a set of worksheets—Assessment Goals and Objectives, Assessment Methods, and Assessment Timeline—that guide organizations through the structured design of impact assessments. Drawing on established evaluation theory, the paper situates these worksheets within broader debates on accountability and performance measurement, while providing practical notes for adaptation in diverse contexts. The inclusion of case-based examples, reflection questions, and common pitfalls ensures usability across both academic and practitioner audiences. The worksheets support organizations in setting clear objectives, selecting feasible and credible methods, and aligning tasks with realistic timelines, making them an indispensable tool for sustainable monitoring and evaluation practices.