22 Years, a Lot of Sticky Notes, and What I’ve Learned About Community Change
Morning friends,
In October 2004, after an unexpected job change, and with encouragement from friends, I filed the papers of incorporation, hung out my shingle, and Community Evaluation Solutions (CES) was born. This month, CES turns 22.
I’ll be honest. Some days it feels like yesterday. Other days, when I look at files filled with evaluation reports and a closet full of my favorite facilitation supplies (post it notes anyone?), it feels like a lifetime. And while I’ve been doing this work even longer than that, CES is where it all came together.
Do anniversaries make you reflective? Me too. I’ve been asking myself: what have I learned over the years. (Truthfully, I am still learning!). Here are a few lessons I keep coming back to and bring to our work.
Start with consensus, not a statement. So many organizations want to jump straight into writing their mission and vision. I get it. But if your staff, board, and clients aren’t on the same page first, that’s like heading out on a hike without checking the trail map. You might end up on the horse trail. Ask me how I know.
You don’t need fancy software. I’ve watched too many nonprofits sign an expensive contract, only to hire someone else to customize it. Good ol’ Excel will take you a long way. Please talk to an evaluator before you sign on the dotted line.
You don’t need a PhD in statistics either. Most evaluations don’t require complicated math. Averages and percentages will get your team further than you think. What matters more is asking good, evaluative questions.
People are your most precious resource, especially for coalitions and nonprofits. Staff, volunteers, board members, donors. When people feel seen and used well, they stay. When they don’t, they drift away.
Evaluation is about learning, not judgment. When teams see data as a tool to get better instead of a report card, everything changes.
I am grateful for the many years of work with community-based nonprofits and coalitions. I have learned so much and am grateful.
To celebrate 22 years, I’m taking $22 off my Online Course - Powerful Evidence: Making Evaluation Practical and Easy for Community & Nonprofit Professionals all month long. Powerful Evidence is designed to help nonprofit teams ask better questions, collect meaningful information, interpret results, and use what they learn to improve programs and show their impact.
The offer runs through October 31. To redeem offer, use Promo Code at Checkout: CES22
What have the last few years taught you? I’d love to hear. Hit reply and tell me.
Take care, friends,
Ann
P.S. Don’t forget to respond before the October 31 deadline!
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