The evaluation plan that reviewers trust: logic models, comparison groups, and practical metrics

The Strategy

The evaluation plan is where many proposals lose. Reviewers want to see that you know how to measure whether your program works — not just that you plan to. A weak evaluation plan signals you will not be able to report results, which makes the funder investment risky. The logic model: every evaluation plan needs a logic model — inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes, impact. The logic model shows the causal chain from your intervention to the change you expect. If you cannot draw a logic model, you do not have a theory of change — and you will not be able to evaluate it. The comparison group: the strongest evaluation designs have a comparison group — a similar population that does not receive the intervention. We will compare 200 program participants to 200 matched non-participants on outcome X is strong. We will measure outcomes before and after is weaker. We will measure outcomes is not an evaluation plan. The practical metrics: choose 3-5 key metrics, not 20. Reviewers can tell when you have listed every possible metric —…