Assessing the impacts of your grants: what and how to measure Yorkshire Grant Makers’ Forum: Being an effective grant maker 17 November 2016 Assessing the impacts of your grants: what and how to measure Shehnaaz Latif Senior Consultant

outline Shehnaaz Latif Senior Consultant What type of funder are you? What do you need to know and why? Jargon busting! Good practice principles Gathering information An example Shehnaaz Latif Senior Consultant

What type of funder are you?

WHAT DO YOU NEED to know, AND WHY? Are we making good decisions? Do projects need further support? Fit for purpose? Making a difference? Good practice? Financial accountability? Sustainability? Learning and/or policy-making

Good practice principles Clear m&e policy and practice Adequate resources Explicit reporting requirements Needs are justified Requirements limited to essential and usable Problems are reported Practical support is offered Users contribute feedback Focus on outcomes Information is used Effective learning Plus: proportionality; funding purpose; risk management  

A proportionality matrix: An example Size of grant Type of monitoring/evaluation Annual report and statement of expenditure Report form Visit External evaluation £0-£5,000 x £5,001-£20,000 £20,001- £50,000 £50,001+

Standards of evidence What depth of information do you want? How will you encourage and check quality? What is the balance of information you want – quantitative and qualitative? Will you find case studies useful? How will you use visual evidence? Consider: Setting indicators and/or targets?

AN EXAMPLE: Reflecting on your original project plan, please complete and return this evaluation report keeping your answers to no more than two pages, to XXXX 1. Has your project run to schedule and budget?   2. What have been the successes?   3. What have been the challenges?   4. What are your next steps?   5. Do you have any other comments or news to share?   Please include an updated budget for the funded work

USEs of data?

FURTHER READING Blog: http://blogs.ncvo.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/why-take-an-impact-driven-approach-to-funding.pdf CES’ free publication ‘Does your money make a difference?’ sets out good practice in monitoring and evaluation by funders: http://www.ces-vol.org.uk/Resources/CharitiesEvaluationServices/Documents/doesyourmoneymakeadifference-745-753.pdf Inspiring Impact provides a series of principles to guide funders’ work in this area: http://inspiringimpact.org/resources/resources-funders-commissioners-and-investors/ How to cost an external evaluation: http://www.ces-vol.org.uk/tools-and-resources/planning-for-monitoring-evaluation/guidance-paper-one-tools.html What to include in an evaluation brief: http://www.ces-vol.org.uk/tools-and-resources/planning-for-monitoring-evaluation/guidance-paper--two-eval-brief-tools.html

Independent evaluation Theory of change Independent evaluation Free online resources

KEEP in Touch… Twitter: @CESOnline Tel: 020 7520 3193 www.ncvo.org.uk/charities-evaluation-services Twitter: @CESOnline Tel: 020 7520 3193 Email: ces@ncvo.org.uk

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