September 10, 2026

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How Community-Defined Evaluation Can Improve Nonprofit Impact Measurement

By Rebecca Silverman

Nonprofits increasingly design programs with input from the communities they intend to serve.

Now that lived experience finally has a seat at the design table, what about on the evaluation team? Nonprofits are engaging communities to help create impactful programs, but without community members’ partnership in evaluating them, nonprofits may be missing critical feedback.

Why Community Input Should Shape Evaluation

This isn’t necessarily a new argument. A 2012 peer-reviewed study, “Methods for Linking Community Views to Measurable Outcomes in a Youth Violence Prevention Program,” outlined the importance of integrating community engagement and participatory research to co-develop goals and indicators.

Nonprofits cannot meaningfully help those they intend to serve without first understanding what meaningful service looks like from the community members’ perspectives.

Four Ways to Bring Community Input Into Nonprofit Program Evaluation

It’s easy to fall into the numbers trap. X number of participants will be served X number of times within X number of days, leading to an increase of X number of social service referrals. A plan may project that a certain number of participants will be served within a defined period, leading to an increased number of social service referrals.

BetterEvaluation, a global evaluation knowledge platform, encourages practitioners to consider the full range of tasks involved in evaluation rather than focusing on only one part of the process. Its guidance on participatory evaluation also emphasizes involving stakeholders throughout the evaluation process — from design to data collection, analysis and reporting.

Instead, nonprofits can expand evaluation activities in ways that invite participants to define, measure, interpret and adapt programs. That approach can help nonprofits create change with communities, not simply for them.

1. Define Success With the Community... read more...

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

Easterseals Redwood is pleased to announce Melanie Stutenroth as their new Director of Advancement.

Greater Cincinnati Foundation welcomes Stephanie Randolph as their new Impact Investing Fellow.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Sycamore Presbyterian Church (SPC) celebrates its 118th annual Lawn Fete, a festival of food, fun and fellowship that will transform the campus of Sycamore Presbyterian Church into a fairground on Sept. 11 and Sept. 12, 9:00am to 2:00pm each day. Find more information here.

The newly formed BEAM Center for Nonprofits is grateful to Interact for Health and SeaChange-Lodestar Fund for Nonprofit Collaboration for their support of integration costs for the merger of Leadership Council for Nonprofits, OneSource Center for Nonprofit Excellence, and Social Venture Partners Cincinnati.

Strategies to End Homelessness is grateful for the support of the Charles H. Dater Foundation for their $35,000 grant for the Central Access Point (CAP) Helpline.

United Way of Greater Cincinnati is proud to announce the Year III grantees of the Future of Manufacturing Fund, established in partnership with the GE Aerospace Foundation. These six organizations were selected for their leadership in addressing critical gaps in the advanced manufacturing workforce and their proven, innovative approaches to scaling impact: Advanced Manufacturing Industry Partnership, Cincinnati State, Gateway Community & Technical College, LEAD Training, Miami University Hamilton, UC Clermont College.

National Clothing Insecurity Awareness Day shines a spotlight on the millions of American children who don’t have access to clean, properly fitting and seasonally appropriate clothing. Clothing Insecurity is a hidden crisis estimated to affect as many as 2 in 5 children nationally, and an estimated 100,000 children in Southwest Ohio alone. Give Like A Mother (GLAM) is one of over 80 national organizations raising visibility of September 15th as National Clothing Insecurity Awareness Day.

Greater Cincinnati Foundation (GCF) has awarded $816,120 to 28 nonprofit organizations through its Healthy People: Community & Cultural Vibrancy grant cycle, investing in programs that strengthen physical and mental well-being, expand access to essential services, and help residents build healthier, more stable futures.

The YMCA of Greater Cincinnati is launching an expanded effort to create ways for people across the region to connect. It begins Thursday, Sept. 10, with a Y Community Dinner, 5:30pm-7:30pm at the Gamble-Nippert YMCA, bringing strangers together around a shared table for dinner and conversation. The event focuses on the theme “Strong Minds. Stronger Communities” and includes mental-health resources from 1N5. The dinner is designed as the first of more shared experiences the YMCA has planned to strengthen relationships and build belonging.

Green Umbrella is holding a public forum for Northern Kentucky county commissioner candidates on Wednesday, September 23 at 6:00pm at the Erlanger Branch of the Kenton County Library. The County Commissioner Forum will focus on the candidates' plans for balancing economic development, green infrastructure implementation, and greenspace preservation. The public can submit questions for the candidates in advance at the link here by September 15.

Neighborhood Housing Services of Hamilton is grateful to receive a $10,000 grant from the PNC Foundation. This grant is supporting renovations and other improvements in the organization's permanent and transitional housing program.

FUNDING AND RESOURCE OPPORTUNITIES

The bi3 Fund, HealthPath Foundation of Ohio, and Interact for Health are seeking applications for the fourth cohort of the Data for Equity Funding Collaborative. The Collaborative plans to award 18-month grants of $40,000 to as many as 10 nonprofit and governmental organizations focused on health or health justice. The funding and learning opportunity will help organizations shift culture, mindsets, and practices to advance community-driven, equitable data and evaluation.

The Brickers Foundation is accepting submissions from nonprofit organizations interested in being featured through a virtual recorded interview. Two nonprofits are selected each month, and there is no fee to apply or participate. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Learn more and submit your organization here.

A Fall 2026 class at NKU will look at professional map-making for spatial data visualization and exploration. We would like to invite applications from nonprofits (or programs within nonprofits) that need professional mapping support. This class is part of NKU’s Mayerson Student Philanthropy Project. One non-profit organization (agency) will be selected by the students to receive a $2,000 grant to support implementation of a mapping project or a program that the mapping project supports.

Whitney/Strong offers free community training throughout Greater Cincinnati, including QPR suicide prevention, Stop the Bleed®, STRONG Rules firearm safe storage education, and Strength in Community mental wellness programming. Nonprofits, community organizations, workplaces and other groups interested in hosting a free training can contact Save A Life Program Manager Alyson Wick at alyson@whitstrong.org.

Ride Cincinnati, the grassroots cycling nonprofit organization, has officially opened its grant applications for 2026, an opportunity to provide support to local cancer initiatives advancing cancer research, education and care right here in our community. Organizations whose work aligns with Ride Cincinnati's mission are encouraged to apply for funding consideration. Applicants interested in this sponsored grant can find additional eligibility requirements and application details in the 2026 Grant Guidelines, available here.

Solarize Nonprofits: The City of Cincinnati has partnered with Solar United Neighbors and RE-volv to help nonprofits, houses of worship, and schools go solar through a free cohort learning program. Interested organizations will be connected to vetted solar installers and bulk purchase pricing. Act now to secure the 30%+ federal tax rebates available for a limited time and stabilize your energy bill! Open to organizations across Southwestern Ohio.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Join CAVA (Cincinnati Association of Volunteer Administrators) for the Volunteer Leadership Symposium on September 18, 9:00am – 4:00pm at the Music Resource Center in Walnut Hills. This one-day professional development event is designed for volunteer professionals at all experience levels and will feature engaging presentations, interactive breakout sessions, networking opportunities, and plenty of practical ideas to bring back to your organization. Breakfast and lunch are included. Registration is $75 for CAVA members and $125 for non-members. Click here for more information.

Join Pro Bono Partnership of Ohio for a live webinar on Wednesday, September 16,1:00pm.: From Evaluation to Termination: Practical Tips for Managing Performance in the Nonprofit Workplace. Designed for nonprofit leaders and HR professionals, this session will share practical guidance on managing employee performance throughout the employment lifecycle while minimizing legal risk and supporting your organization's mission and culture. Learn more and register here.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Turn your love of dogs into action by helping care for our shelter dogs. The canines at Cincinnati Animal CARE Humane Society need your time, attention, and most importantly, LOVE until their fur-ever families come to adopt them. Teams meet on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, 10:00am-12:00pm and 12:00pm-2:00pm. Volunteers are oriented and trained to work with shelter dogs online prior to first shift.

Why donors drop off before and after the first gift

Donors who abandon a gift don’t write in to complain. They just don’t give.

How nonprofits can invest funds beyond operating reserves
There’s a myth in the nonprofit world: parking cash in a savings account is the safe choice. In reality, it can be one of the costliest decisions a board makes.

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- Katy Meinhardt, EPIC House

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