Planning and Evaluation
Whether it is improving policy, inform the public or stimulating a rich and vibrant civic life, Pew is committed to achieving tangible impacts based on specific measurable goals. It is also committed to rigorous measurement of its progress toward these outcomes as this provides critical opportunities for institutional learning.
Planning and Evaluation are integral units at Pew. The Planning and Evaluation teams support the organization's efforts by providing: thoughtful guidance and critique on initial program design; objective assessment of progress against benchmarks; identification of lessons that can be applied to Pew's work; and evaluation of our ultimate return on investment.
Getting the strategy right upfront is critical. Serving as an objective and thoughtful advisor to Pew’s program staff, our Planning unit ensures that the projects we work on are grounded in the best available research and knowledge; are based on a clear and achievable design; and can have a discernible and meaningful impact on an important social problem within a reasonable timeframe. By working on critical institutional planning efforts, Planning also supports Pew’s board and senior management team as they set the overall strategic direction of the organization.
Even the most well designed programs often need to be adjusted mid-stream. After an initiative is launched, our emphasis shifts to regularly assessing its progress. Our Evaluation unit designs and oversees external evaluations—undertaken by well-respected experts—that gauge whether initiatives are on track to meet their stated goals; identify necessary adjustments to strategy; and ultimately assess Pew’s return on investment. Pew’s commitment to thorough evaluation has helped to identify what works and what doesn’t in complex initiative design; has improved its ability to develop and manage program initiatives; and ultimately has made the organization more effective.
As an innovator and leader in the nonprofit sector, Pew is committed to institutional learning. Research Services provides staff with an extensive range of information resources to enhance the design and management of initiatives. This unit also undertakes specialized investigations, helping us understand important trends in our issue areas. And through our ongoing staff-education program, “Pew U”, Pew promotes frank conversation about our successes, challenges and lessons learned. Pew is committed to sharing this knowledge externally, through publications, professional associations and one-on-one assistance to our peers.
A complete listing of Planning and Evaluation staff (including contact information) can be found on our Board and Staff page.
Planning
Evaluation
Knowledge Sharing
