Planning and evaluation go hand in hand. Imagining what social change might look like and how a project intends to effect that change is how evaluating impact begins. Being conscious of evaluation interests while you’re developing a program helps you:
- clarify the purpose of evaluating
- decide the evaluation approach to take
- anticipate kinds of data to collect
- determine whom you may need to enlist to conduct or assist with evaluation
- assess resources needed
A Place to Start offers three options for getting started on your evaluation plans with attention to concerns related to evaluating for social impact: