​Stages of Evaluation

Stage 1. Conceptualize ​

Convene stakeholders to clarify the conservation need, establish the goal, and identify key threats.

Stage 2. Plan Actions and Monitoring​

Identify priority geographies, strategies, outcomes, and metrics for gauging progress.

Assess key risks to success and incorporate mitigating strategies.

Stage 3. Implement Actions and Monitoring​

Incorporate information gathered in Stages 1 and 2 into the development of a business plan.

Invest in grant projects that are aligned with our strategies.

Stage 4. Analyze, Use, Adapt​

Assess our grantmaking processes and progress towards conservation goals.

Adapt grantmaking strategies in response to our findings.

Stage 5. Capture and Share Learning

We communicate what we learn with internal and external audiences through:

• NFWF Grants Library
• Scorecards and Third-party Evaluations
• Environmental Evaluators Network
• Evaluation Publications ​

• Environmental Program and Policy Evaluation: Addressing Methodological Challenges. Summer 2009. Matthew Birnbaum and Per Mickwitz, Editors. New Directions for Evaluation  Number 122, Jossey-Bass. 128 pp.

• Challenges in Evaluation of Environmental Education Programs and Policies. May 2010. Matthew Birnbaum and Kara Crohn, Editors. Journal of Evaluation and Program Planning 33(2): 67-204.