In a previous blog post titled "Program Development, Implementation & Evaluation - Top Areas to Address - #1 - #5", I stated that in the nonprofit field, the development of a new program generally begins with receiving some type of grant award. Of course, nonprofits can develop programs without being awarded a grant, but the money needed to create and implement any type of program will need to come from a philanthropist or through other fundraising efforts and activities. I then stated that for purposes of this blog post, you have received a grant and are now ready to create your program. This post lists the latter five of ten items that will need to be addressed as you develop and implement your program.
1. To reach your target population, outreach is an essential component of any new program. Where do you potential clients live, work, or hang out? What other professionals or agencies work with individuals you hope to serve? I recommend that you develop a list of those individuals and organizations you need to contact, not only to educate them about your new program, but to solicit potential clients as well.
2. To market your new program, you will need to develop a variety of marketing tools and strategies. Marketing tools are the materials you use to educate the public about your program. They can include, but are not limited to, brochures, business cards, fact sheets, fliers, and websites. Once you develop your marketing materials, which strategies will you use to reach your potential clients? Examples of marketing strategies include, but are not limited to, sending information via e-mail or regular mail, sending public service announcements to radio stations, and advertising in magazines or journals.
3. With any new program, data collection and software to input your data is essential. It helps you to keep track of who you are serving, what services are being provided, and whether or not these services have helped your clients to achieve desired outcomes. Tracking data can help you to see where the holes are in your program, what areas need to be tweaked, and what areas are working well. In addition, you'll want to share specific types of data with your funding source.
4. Reports are an integral part of all programs, whether they are new or existing. Funding sources require reports to ensure that their money is being used wisely, and for the purpose in which it was originally intended. Also, other stakeholders (e.g., board members, collaborative partners) might request reports to assess the progress of a program and the impact it is having on the community. Reports generally summarize the program’s activities and data to demonstrate the progress of the program.
5. For every program, there should be some type of evaluation to assess whether or not the program provided the services it intended to and if the desired outcomes were actually achieved. Program evaluation can be done through examining data and/or client feedback. You will have to determine whether to use qualitative or quantitative data in your evaluation. Quantitative data (e.g., scales are generally used) is easier to collect and report on, but qualitative data gives you more detailed information regarding a client’s satisfaction with services and whether or not these services resulted in desired outcomes.
Although there are other aspects of program development, implementation, and evaluation, the five components described above are critical. If you know where to reach your potential clients, have developed relevant marketing materials and strategies, know which data you want to collect and have a system for collecting it, have a reporting mechanism in place, and know how you are going to evaluate the success of your program, you are well on your way to developing and implementing a good, strong, and successful program.
Coach Sharon
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