Step 7: Share Findings

You should share your preliminary findings from your evaluation with all the stakeholders in the evaluation. This will help you test your interpretations of the data and help you strategize how the information can be used.

Looking across all the data sources, you can prepare a formal evaluation report based on the prominent or main findings. In addition, if there is anything that is particularly surprising or interesting, you should report it, even if it's not a main finding.

Key elements to include in the formal evaluation report include:

The purpose and context for the evaluation
The evaluation questions you asked
The evaluation activities you designed to answer those questions
The types and quality of the evaluation data you collected
The findings
Future recommendations

Results to quantitative evaluation questions are often easiest to report using graphs. Spreadsheet software such as Microsoft Excel or Lotus 1-2-3 can convert numbers into graphs. Qualitative evaluation results can be reported by identifying common themes, identifying patterns, and providing detailed quotes or stories from the data.

In addition to a formal evaluation report, you can also include evaluation results in communications to your stakeholders including annual reports, newsletters, oral presentations, your website, posters, press releases, and grant applications.

It is important to remember when presenting your findings to not to present just the data that supports your own view, but to report the actual findings and themes that were generated from the data whether positive or negative. These results are all useful for modifying and improving your program.

Tools for Sharing Findings:

The Reflect and Improve tool kit is a resource for community-based organizations looking to engage youth and adults in the evaluation of community and youth development initiative. This section is designed to help an organization in considering the appropriate communication plan for an evaluation project.

Also see http://www.theinnovationcenter.org

Creating Charts in Excel
How Can I Make a Pie Chart in Excel to Report Data? (PDF)
This Evaluation Tip Sheet created by Pennsylvania State Cooperative Extension gives instructions for creating charts in Excel, for use in presenting evaluation data.

Writing Impact Statements
How to Use Evaluation Data to Write Different Types of Impact Statements (PDF)
This Evaluation Tip Sheet created by Pennsylvania State Cooperative Extension offers guidance for writing impact statements depending on the audience. Examples are given for impact statements useful to modifying the program, and others useful for presenting to stakeholders.

Project Star: Writing a Good Success Story
Writing a Good Success Story (PDF)
Reporting Checklist (PDF)
These worksheets from Project STAR, a Corporation for National and Community Service sponsored technical assistance provider in performance measurement, offers tips for writing your evaluation results completely and effectively.

W.K. Kellogg Foundation Evaluation Handbook
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation Evaluation Handbook (PDF)
This document from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation is a guide for non-profit organizations interested in conducing self-evaluations. Information about communicating findings begins on page 96.

Basics of Good Evaluation Reporting
Basics of Good Evaluation Reporting (PDF)
This tip sheet from the University of Wisconsin - Extension offers tips for creating effective evaluation reports.

Connect with others

Talk with others in the field who are doing similar work or who have experiences to share. Share your experiences in Share Finding through the Practitioner Database