You believe you’re doing good work, but do you have the data to demonstrate it? Or if you’re not sure your programs are working as you’d hoped, how can you tell - and more importantly - what can you improve?

Program evaluation helps you make sure your organization is having the impact you intended. If you run programs, fund programs, or are considering implementing programs, you need evaluation skills. This session will teach you evaluation models, how to collect and use basic evaluation data, and how to use evaluation to make your programs better.

About the presenter:

Kathleen Brady, PhD is the CEO of Community Research Group, an independent organization dedicated to helping communities improve through the strategic use of data. Her expertise is data mining and analysis, community-level research, program evaluation, synthesis of qualitative and quantitative data, and identification of best practices.

Dr. Brady has extensive experience in higher education and community research, having built the Metropolitan Studies Institute at the University of South Carolina Upstate. She has produced over 100 community research and data analytics studies, including public health assessments, poverty and economic mobility studies, racial equity studies, economic impact studies, and others. She believes strongly that data must be understandable to its consumers in order to be useful.

Prior to leading the Community Research Group, Dr. Brady was on the Executive Leadership Team at University of South Carolina Upstate, serving as Vice Chancellor for External Relations and Partnerships and Executive Director of the Metropolitan Studies Institute. The University’s outwardly-facing Centers reported to her, and under her tenure they became nationally recognized for outstanding contributions to the Spartanburg, SC community and to the state and the region.

Dr. Brady has extensive publications and has served numerous community organizations and nonprofits. Currently, she serves on the Board of Directors for United Way of the Piedmont, and the Board of Directors of the New Morning Foundation of South Carolina. She has previously served on the Advisory Board of the Greenville, SC Chamber of Commerce, and the Core Team of Spartanburg’s Way to Wellville.

Evaluations for Non-evaluators