Strengthening Organizational Impact Through Evaluation Planning
Evaluation is a core part of our grantmaking at Foellinger Foundation. It helps organizations measure meaningful outcomes that correspond with their mission and the Foundation’s vision. By aligning program outputs and outcomes with the Foundation’s goals, evaluation helps ensure funded work contributes to long-term, community-wide impact.
To support this commitment, the Foundation offers Evaluation Plan Training workshops ahead of each grant cycle for our three community-based grants: Early Childhood Development, Family Development, and Youth Development. Designed for both new and long-term grantees, these workshops help nonprofit leaders and staff strengthen their understanding of outcome measurement so they can approach evaluation planning with greater confidence and clarity.
What Evaluation Plan Training Workshops Cover
Led by Dr. Mindy King—owner of Limelight Analytics, LLC, which specializes in evaluation and measurement—the workshops are designed to prepare organizations to submit a grant application and measure their success.
During the workshop, participants:
Receive an overview of the Independence Continuum and the Guide to Program Outcomes.
Learn how data collection tools and measurement strategies affect the validity and reliability of outcome measures.
Review Foellinger Foundation’s evaluation planning and reporting process.
Receive detailed, step-by-step guidance on how to complete the Evaluation Plan required for grant applications.
For new grantees, the workshop offers a welcoming introduction to the Foundation’s evaluation approach and expectations, helping them get started on the right foot. For long-term grantees, it's a valuable opportunity to revisit key ideas, enhance evaluation skills, and adjust plans as programs, staff, or community needs evolve.
Grantee Takeaways From Evaluation Plan Training Workshops
Two organizations who’ve participated in the Evaluation Plan Training workshop in recent years are Northeast Indiana Positive Resource Connection (PRC) and Community Transportation Network (CTN). Both organizations benefited from the experience, gaining a better understanding of evaluation and appreciating the one-on-one time with the workshop facilitator and Foundation staff.
NORTHEAST INDIANA POSITIVE RESOURCE CONNECTION
Kandace Kelly, Director of Grants, PrEP, and Viral Hepatitis at Northeast Indiana Positive Resource Connection, attended the Evaluation Planning and Robust Outcome Measurement workshop in July 2024 as she prepared for PRC’s next grant application cycle. Through the training, she gained clarity on how to use concrete data—such as lab work and proof of insurance—to more accurately measure both short- and long-term outcomes. This approach helped PRC more clearly demonstrate how the organization works alongside the individuals it serves as they progress along Foellinger Foundation’s Independence Continuum, working toward better health and quality of life. Kandace has since applied these evaluation practices beyond grant reporting, integrating them into PRC’s Clinical Quality Management Plan to identify trends, address barriers to care, and strengthen outcomes across multiple programs.
She emphasized that the hands-on nature of the workshop—the opportunity to ask questions and hear from other grantees—made a critical difference. “As a grant writer, I pride myself on completing all grant applications and outcome measurements and reporting with great accuracy and detail. To miss or omit something important in the grant application because I did not attend the training and do not fully understand the process for completing the grant application and its requirements would be detrimental to me and potentially jeopardize PRC’s ability to receive funding. If it weren’t for this workshop, I wouldn’t have submitted an application that was as well-rounded, complete, and accurate.”
COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION NETWORK
Justin Clupper, Executive Director of Community Transportation Network, participated in an Evaluation Plan Training workshop ahead of the Family Development grant application deadline to strengthen how his organization measures and communicates its impact. “The training helped us begin asking questions that lead to better data collection and that demonstrate the success we’re having with our riders,” he shared. “During the workshop, we had the opportunity to review our previous evaluation plan and work with Foundation staff to update our plan based on the work we're doing today.” CTN reviewed its previous evaluation plan and refined it to reflect the organization’s work, ensuring alignment with Foellinger Foundation’s goal of organizations working alongside the people they serve to increase Allen County residents’ independence.
A central takeaway from the workshop was the value of using rider feedback more strategically. CTN’s annual Rider Survey already provided insight into the impact of its services, but the evaluation planning process helped the organization rethink its questions to better quantify that impact. “Evaluation can feel very daunting,” he explained. “Grantees just want to go and do good work and help our community. The Evaluation Plan helps put a strategy in place for how you share that impact with others.” For Justin, the workshop reinforced that evaluation doesn’t add new work—it sharpens what organizations are already doing.
Thank you, Northeast Indiana Positive Resource Connection and Community Transportation Network, for your continued commitment to evaluation, accountability, and impact. Your dedication is helping to champion opportunity for Allen County residents.
To learn more about Foellinger Foundation’s evaluation philosophy, tools, and resources, visit our Evaluation page. View our Events page for upcoming workshops designed to support your organization’s learning and growth.