In any evaluation there are choices to be made with respect to what is measured, how data are collected and who benefits from the information. At Starboard Leadership Consulting we employ an individualized approach to every evaluation we design and implement. We believe in a highly participatory approach to evaluation where stakeholders are central to the process of asking and answering questions related to their vision and goals. At the start of any evaluation we spend a lot of time listening to our clients to make sure we fully understand what it is they want to accomplish before designing an evaluation to best fit their needs and resources.
Examples of our Evaluation Work
- On behalf of a collaborative funding initiative involving foundations and individual donors from Maine and New England, we designed and are currently implementing a multi-year evaluation of their grantmaking program in Maine. The evaluation engages funders and grantees alike in a highly participatory process where the focus is on learning not only from project implementation, but also from one another to improve planning, performance and, ultimately, impact. We have used a wide array of tools to foster the learning environment – including logic models, learning circles, interviews, surveys, and individualized coaching. The result is a rich environment where the relationships that have been establishing during the process – among grantees and between the funders and grantees – are resulting in unanticipated and exciting new collaborative efforts to improve quality of place in Maine.
- Working with a land conservation organization, we are currently involved in a multi-year evaluation of their USDA-funded effort to increase the viability of working farms in Maine and to promote food security in the rural communities where they operate. As in most of our work, we are applying a highly participatory approach to the evaluation because we believe that groups and communities benefit most when they are directly involved in asking and answering the questions that are central to what they aspire to accomplish. While still underway, the evaluation is being guided by a team of stakeholders and brings to bear a wide range of tools – including logic model development, community forums, interviews, and tracking of key indicators.
For more information please contact us at 207-992-4400.
