To prepare:
- Review the checklists for engaging stakeholders and for developing and evaluating evaluation budgets at the Western Michigan University evaluation checklists website listed in this week’s Learning Resources.
Post your comprehensive response to each of the following:
- Briefly describe to the class the project you and your team are working on for your RFP.
- Considering the RFP you and your team members are reviewing, who would be the key stakeholder(s) for contracting with you for this program evaluation? Explain why the stakeholder or stakeholders were chosen.
- Are there other key stakeholders to help you clarify needs, resources for evaluation, etc.? How would you go about identifying who these other key stakeholders may be?
- What are your thoughts on how your team might estimate your costs for conducting the evaluation? What are some key expenses? What further information would you need to know to plan your expenses?
Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!
Here’s a simple step-by-step way to structure your post so that it’s clear, professional, and on target with the prompt:
Step 1: Project Description (Opening Paragraph)
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Briefly describe your group’s project from the RFP.
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Keep it 1–2 sentences: state the purpose of the program and its goals.
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Example opener: “Our team is working on a proposal to evaluate a community mental health outreach program designed to improve access for underserved populations.”
Step 2: Identify Key Stakeholders (2–3 sentences)
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Name the primary stakeholder(s) who would contract you for the evaluation (e.g., funding agency, program director, government department).
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Explain why they’re central—usually because they provide funding, oversee operations, or are accountable for program outcomes.
Step 3: Identify Additional Stakeholders (1 paragraph)
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Think about secondary stakeholders who can help clarify needs and resources:
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Program staff
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Beneficiaries/clients
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Partner organizations
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Community representatives
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Explain how you’d identify them: through stakeholder mapping, reviewing organizational charts, and consulting program leadership.
Step 4: Estimating Costs (1 paragraph)
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Share your initial thoughts on how to estimate evaluation costs.
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Include potential key expenses, such as:
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Personnel time (evaluators, data analysts)
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Travel costs
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Survey or data collection tools/software
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Training sessions or workshops
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Reporting and dissemination of results
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Mention what more you’d need to finalize the budget, like project timeline, available resources, or expected sample size.
Step 5: Wrap-Up (1–2 sentences)
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End by reinforcing the importance of balancing stakeholder input with realistic budget planning to ensure an effective evaluation.
Helpful Resources for You:
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Western Michigan University Evaluation Checklists
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Stakeholder Engagement in Program Evaluation
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Engaging Stakeholders and Estimating Evaluation Budgets in Program Evaluation appeared first on Skilled Papers.
