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Expanding the repertoire of evaluation tools so that evaluation recommendations can assist nonprofits to enhance strategic planning and design of program operations

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  • Persaud, Nadini

Abstract

Data are the lifeblood of decision-making and provide a critical component into the complex mosaic from which decisions emerge. Evaluators and decision-makers should, therefore, continuously seek to explore the use of tools that can produce more meaningful, insightful, and useful data so that decision-making can be enhanced and improved. Traditional economic appraisal methods offer much and are very useful and relevant. Standard financial accounting reporting for tax purposes also provide insightful information on the organization’s financial health and that of its individual programs. However, neither offer insight into cost behavior—an important consideration for making program operations more efficient and for long-term strategic planning, forecasting, and design of program operations. Before COVID-19, programs were already challenged with competition for donor dollars and the pursuit for financial sustainability. The COVID-19 environment has considerably exacerbated these challenges. In this current environment, it is more important than ever for nonprofits to optimize limited financial resources to do more societal good. This paper will illustrate how selected concepts from cost and management accounting can be used by both independent program evaluators to improve their recommendations, as well as program administrators in-charge of nonprofits to enhance decision-making.

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  • Persaud, Nadini, 2021. "Expanding the repertoire of evaluation tools so that evaluation recommendations can assist nonprofits to enhance strategic planning and design of program operations," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:epplan:v:89:y:2021:i:c:s014971892100080x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2021.101985
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Smith Steven Rathgeb & Phillips Susan D., 2016. "The Changing and Challenging Environment of Nonprofit Human Services: Implications for Governance and Program Implementation," Nonprofit Policy Forum, De Gruyter, vol. 7(1), pages 63-76, January.
    2. Sekhar, Late R.C. & Rajagopalan, A.V., 2012. "Management Accounting," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780195683608.
    3. Vawda, Ayesha Yaqub & Moock, Peter & Gittinger, J. Price & Patrinos, Harry Anthony, 2001. "Economic analysis of World Bank education projects and project outcomes," Policy Research Working Paper Series 2564, The World Bank.
    4. Herman, Patricia M. & Avery, Deirdre J. & Schemp, Crystal S. & Walsh, Michele E., 2009. "Are cost-inclusive evaluations worth the effort?," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 32(1), pages 55-61, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Mayer, Duncan J. & Fischer, Robert L., 2023. "Exploring data use in nonprofit organizations," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    2. Yates, Brian T., 2021. "Toward collaborative cost-inclusive evaluation: Adaptations and transformations for evaluators and economists," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).

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