Program Details
The NPI Evaluation Framework
At the Nonprofit Institute, we believe evaluation should do more than measure outcomes—it should help organizations learn, improve, and better understand the communities they serve.
NPI’s Professional Certificate in Nonprofit Program Evaluation uses a culturally responsive and equitable evaluation framework. This approach recognizes that programs operate within complex cultural, organizational, and community contexts and that the evaluation process itself can be an opportunity to promote greater equity.
So, what does culturally responsive and equitable evaluation look like?
- Honoring culture and context throughout every stage of the evaluation process
- Centering the voices of people who are impacted by the program—including program participants, community members, staff, funders, and other key interest holders—as much as possible
- Looking beyond individual programs to identify structural and systems-level factors that may contribute to inequity and shape program outcomes
- Sharing findings broadly so evaluation results can inform learning and decision-making beyond the immediate project
- Building community capacity by using evaluation findings and processes to strengthen the knowledge, skills, and resources of communities and community organizations
What’s Included in the Program
This is a hands-on learning experience designed to help you move from evaluation concepts to real-world application.
Your program experience includes:
- Virtual Zoom workshops from January through May 2027
- Personalized 1:1 consultation on your evaluation project, including individualized coaching sessions
- Practical guides, tools, and materials to support your learning and evaluation work
- A Professional Certificate in Nonprofit Program Evaluation awarded upon successful completion of the program
2027 Session Dates
All sessions will be held online from 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Pacific Time.
- Session 1: January 23, 2027
- Session 2: February 6, 2027
- Session 3: February 20, 2027
- Session 4: March 6, 2027
- Session 5: March 20, 2027
- Session 6: April 3, 2027
- Session 7: April 17, 2027
- Final Presentations: May 15, 2027
Want to stay in the loop? Join our interest list to receive program updates, application information, and announcements about 2027 opportunities.
Program Completion Requirements
This program is designed to be practical and applied. Throughout the program, you’ll use what you learn to build an evaluation project that is meaningful to your organization.
To earn your Professional Certificate, you should be prepared to:
- Complete assignments and readings, requiring approximately 8–24 hours per month outside of scheduled sessions
- Collaborate with people who are impacted by the program and other key interest holders, as feasible, throughout the evaluation process
- Develop data collection tools, such as questionnaires and interview guides
- Collect and analyze data and compile findings and recommendations, or develop a data collection and analysis plan
- Submit a final product and present an overview of your evaluation project during the final session
What You’ll Learn
By the end of the program, you’ll be prepared to:
- Explain the purpose and function of culturally responsive and ethical program evaluation
- Identify people who are impacted by the program and other key interest holders
- Seek out and incorporate input from people who are impacted by the program and others involved in or affected by the work
- Design and develop an evaluation plan
- Create appropriate data collection instruments
- Collect and analyze basic quantitative and qualitative data
- Interpret and communicate findings and conclusions
- Develop recommendations that can support program learning and improvement
2027 Program Cost
Invest in Your Evaluation Skills and Your Organization’s Capacity
The 2027 program fee is $2,950 for one participant.
Save $500: Participants may be eligible for a $500 discount by applying early, attending our program webinar, or connecting with NPI staff before applying.
Bring your colleagues: Additional participants from the same organization are $1,250 each, making the per-person investment lower as more members of your organization participate.
Bringing multiple people from your organization can also help you build shared evaluation skills, strengthen your organization’s evaluation capacity, and create a common approach to learning and improvement.
Join our interest list to stay informed about application dates, discount opportunities, webinars, and other program updates.
Are You a Good Fit for This Program?
You Don’t Need to Be an Evaluation Expert.
We welcome participants with a wide range of skills and experience working with data and information. This includes participants with no prior evaluation experience.
What matters most is your willingness to learn, engage with others, and apply the skills you develop to a real-world evaluation project.
This Program Is Right for You If:
- You have the time to invest. You can dedicate approximately 8–24 hours per month outside of sessions to assignments and evaluation work. (A lack of adequate time for evaluation work outside of class is one of the biggest challenges we see students encounter.)
- You’re open to feedback. You’re comfortable receiving and applying constructive feedback from people who are impacted by the program, colleagues in your organization, fellow participants, and program staff.
- You’re meaningfully involved in a public organization. You will complete your evaluation within an organization where you have meaningful access and involvement. This can include employees, consultants, and volunteers who are actively involved in the organization and its work. If you’re interested in participating but need an organization to work with for your evaluation project, please contact us. We may be able to tap into our network of organizations to help you find a good fit.
This Program Is Right for Your Organization If:
- Your organization is a public sector organization. It does not have to be a nonprofit.
- Your leadership is on board. Organizational leadership is familiar with the program and will support your evaluation work.
- You’ll have access to what you need. Your organization can provide access to relevant data and records and make organizational leaders available for project discussions.
- You’ll have the time and support to succeed. If the organization is your employer, leadership will ensure you have adequate time to complete the program and your evaluation project successfully.
What We Don’t Consider in Your Application
Your opportunity to participate isn’t determined by:
- Your education level. This program is designed for working professionals, and no college degree is required.
- Your job title.
- Whether you consider yourself “good with numbers.”
Curiosity, commitment, and a willingness to learn matter more.
Not sure whether this program is the right fit for you or your organization? Have questions before applying? We’d love to hear from you—contact us.
Application Process
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If you’re interested in applying, you can expect four straightforward steps:
- Review the application instructions.
- Prepare your application materials.
- Submit your application.
- Register once your application has been approved.
Application Instructions
Please prepare the following two documents:
1. Statement of Interest
Submit a one-page Statement of Interest describing, in your own words, why you would like to participate in the program.
Please include:
- A description of your professional background and any prior experience with program evaluation. Prior evaluation experience is not required.
- A description of your organization’s current evaluation activities, if any
- A description of the questions you are interested in answering through your evaluation efforts
- Confirmation that you are able to attend the program sessions and complete approximately 8–24 hours per month of independent work outside of scheduled sessions
2. Letter of Commitment
Submit a one-page Letter of Commitment signed by your organization’s Executive Director, another member of senior leadership, or a member of the Board of Directors.
The letter should:
- Explain why organizational leadership believes this is a good time for the organization to participate in the program
- Confirm that organizational leadership is familiar with the goals, objectives, and time commitment of the certificate program
- Indicate that organizational leadership is prepared to meet with you as needed to identify and refine the goals of your evaluation project
If you will be accessing organizational records or interacting with people who participate in or are impacted by the program, the letter should also indicate that you will be supported in these efforts.
Registration
Accepted applicants will receive registration instructions by email.
We look forward to learning more about you, your organization, and the evaluation questions you’re excited to explore.