Evaluation

Evaluation can help you avoid making the same mistakes and improve the return on your next effort.  Remember no fundraiser has ever been run perfectly. There is always something that can be done better.

When you evaluate, look at both what went wrong and what went right. By looking at what went wrong, you can either prevent mistakes from happening again or reduce the chance of it repeating.  And, of course, you review what went right so you include it again.

You can evaluate the event individually or with your key volunteers. Involving more opinions will help your chances of improving the event in the future.  Try to keep in mind that you don’t have to make changes for changes sake. There must be a clear reason for the change.

The following questions will help guide the evaluation process: What, if anything went wrong? What can we do about it? Did we meet our targets? Did anyone complain and if so about what? Was anyone overworked? Did anyone’s temper get out of hand? Did everyone enjoy themselves? How much money did we make? Could we have made more? Did anything unexpected happen? If so, why? What was the best part of our event? Why? What are the problems we faced?

Be honest and make sure you take notes of all that is discussed and decided. This information will truly be invaluable for next time and may help other grassroots fundraisers within the Foundation.