CED Program Development & Evaluation 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In nonprofit program development, a logic model visually represents:
- The organizational chart of staff roles and reporting lines
- The relationship between resources, activities, outputs, and outcomes (Correct answer)
- The financial projections for the next fiscal year
- The governance structure of the board of directors
Correct answer: The relationship between resources, activities, outputs, and outcomes
A logic model maps the causal chain from inputs and activities to outputs, short-term outcomes, and long-term impact.
Question 2: Process evaluation (implementation evaluation) primarily measures:
- Whether the program achieved its intended long-term outcomes
- The cost-effectiveness of program delivery
- Whether the program is being delivered as designed and to the intended population (Correct answer)
- The return on investment for funders
Correct answer: Whether the program is being delivered as designed and to the intended population
Process evaluation focuses on program fidelity — verifying that activities are implemented as planned and reaching the target population.
Question 3: A 'theory of change' in nonprofit programming describes:
- The organizational mission statement and vision
- The assumptions about how program activities will lead to desired outcomes (Correct answer)
- The fundraising strategy for program sustainability
- The staff training protocols for program delivery
Correct answer: The assumptions about how program activities will lead to desired outcomes
A theory of change articulates the causal pathway — the assumptions and mechanisms by which program activities are expected to produce desired changes.
Question 4: When conducting a community needs assessment, focus groups are most useful for:
- Generating large-scale quantitative data about population needs
- Obtaining in-depth qualitative perspectives from community members (Correct answer)
- Reviewing secondary data from government sources
- Measuring program outcomes over time
Correct answer: Obtaining in-depth qualitative perspectives from community members
Focus groups facilitate rich qualitative discussions that reveal nuanced community perspectives and priorities that surveys cannot capture.
Question 5: In program evaluation, 'outputs' are best defined as:
- The long-term changes in participants' lives resulting from the program
- The ultimate community-level impact the program aims to achieve
- The direct products or services produced by program activities (Correct answer)
- The financial resources required to operate the program
Correct answer: The direct products or services produced by program activities
Outputs are the direct, measurable products of program activities (e.g., number of workshops held, clients served), distinct from outcomes which reflect changes.
Question 6: The 'balanced scorecard' approach in nonprofit program management helps executives:
- Balance the organization's checkbook and financial accounts
- Evaluate performance across multiple dimensions including mission, operations, capacity, and financial health (Correct answer)
- Distribute workload evenly among program staff
- Create equal funding allocations across all programs
Correct answer: Evaluate performance across multiple dimensions including mission, operations, capacity, and financial health
The balanced scorecard provides a multi-dimensional framework that evaluates organizational performance across strategic perspectives including mission impact, operations, and financial sustainability.
Question 7: Benchmarking in nonprofit program development involves:
- Measuring a program's start and end dates against the project timeline
- Comparing program outcomes and practices against peer organizations or industry standards (Correct answer)
- Setting financial benchmarks for donor giving levels
- Establishing minimum qualification standards for program participants
Correct answer: Comparing program outcomes and practices against peer organizations or industry standards
Benchmarking allows organizations to assess their program performance relative to similar programs, identifying best practices and areas for improvement.
CED Program Development & Evaluation 1
In nonprofit program development, a logic model visually represents: