Effective Grant Writing And Program Evaluation For Human Service Professionals

A state-of-the-art guide for developing grants witha strong emphasis on using program outcome measurement to underscore need and accountability
Based on the authors' many years of experience in the public and nonprofit sectors, Effective Grant Writing and Program Evaluation for Human Service Professionals integrates the topics of grant proposal writing and program evaluation, offering grant seekers the practical guidance they need to develop quality proposals, obtain funding, and demonstrate service results and accountability.
The authors clearly and succinctly illustrate and describe each stage of the grant writing and evaluation process. Problems or issues that arise frequently are highlighted and followed by specific advice. In addition, numerous real-world examples and exercises are included throughout the book to give readers the opportunity for reflection and practice.
This timely reference incorporates a strengths perspective, providing:
An inside look at the grant writing and evaluation processes, with insights from experienced grant writers, agency administrators, foundation program managers, and grant reviewers
Specific examples of successful grant proposals and evaluation plans and instruments serving as models for learning and practice
Field-tested individual and group exercises that facilitate the development of grant writing and evaluation skills
Discussion of electronic technology in grant writing and evaluation, including writing and submitting grant proposals online, and identifying funding sources
This grant writing and program evaluation guide follows a needs-driven, evidence-based, result-oriented, and client-centered perspective. Its authoritative discussion equips human service professionals to effectively develop grants with a strong emphasis on measuring program outcomes.

Francis K. O. Yuen, DSW, ACSW, is a Professor in the Division of Social Work at California State University, Sacramento. He has served in many capacities as human service agency administrator; principal investigator for government grant projects; grant writer and reviewer; and program evaluator for local, state, and international projects.
Kenneth L. Terao, MA, is a senior evaluation specialist with JBS International, Inc., Aguirre Division, a social science research firm located in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has been a director and evaluator for many major grant-funded projects in community and educational settings.
Anna Marie Schmidt, MA, is an evaluation specialist with JBS International, Inc., Aguirre Division, a social science research firm located in the San Francisco Bay Area. Previously, she managed national and international nonprofit projects.

Acknowledgments.
About the Authors.
About the Contributors.
Chapter 1 Introduction.
Purpose of This Book.
The Organization and Approaches Used for This Book.
Grant Writing and Program Evaluation: Outcomes and Evidence.
Grant Proposal and Performance Measures.
Evidence-Based Practice.
Defining Program and Program Planning.
What Is a Program?.
What Is Program Planning?
The Ethics and Secret Handshake of Grant Writing and Program Evaluation.
Chapter 2 Community and Target Population, Service Providers, and Funding Sources.
The Good Idea Program.
What Is a Community?
Macro Practice, Grant Writing, and Program Evaluations.
Target Populations and Needs.
Service Providers.
Professional Insight 2.1: Agency Administrator to Get Support for Service Projects.
Funding Sources.
Government.
Professional Insight 2.2: Important Suggestions Related to State or Federal Grant Funds.
Foundations.
Professional Insight 2.3: Ten Tips on Successful Grant Seeking.
Chapter 3 Basic Research Methods and Program Evaluation.
Program Evaluation: A Practice of Social Research.
Research Question.
Developing a Research Question.
Ethical Considerations.
Research Designs.
Qualitative and Quantitative Research.
Inductive and Deductive Learning.
Four Major Types of Research Designs.
Exploratory Designs.
Descriptive Designs.
Experimental Designs.
Evaluative Research Design.
A Mixed Approach.
Validity and Reliability.
Professional Insight 3.1: What Is "Self-Determination" All About?.
Validity.
Internal and External Validity.
Reliability.
The Relationship between Validity and Reliability.
Causation and Correlation.
Correlation and Association.
Sampling.
Probability Sampling (Random Sampling).
Nonprobability Sampling (Nonrandom Sampling).
Sample Size: How Many Is Needed?.
Data Collection and Instruments.
Data Analysis.
Four Levels of Measurement.
Dependent and Independent Variables.
Statistics.
Chapter 4 Program Planning and Evaluation.
Needs Assessment.
Define Needs Assessment.
Needs Assessment and Program Evaluation.
Purpose of the Needs Assessment.
Key Steps in Designing a Needs Assessment.
Program Planning Formula.
Why, Who/Whom, What, Where, When.
How and How Much.
Evaluation.
Logic Model as a Tool for Planning and Evaluation and Theory of Change.
Theory of Change.
Logic Model.
Chapter 5 Grant Proposal Writing: Beginning with the End in Mind.
Grant and Contract.
Request for Proposal, Request for Application, and Program Announcement.
Letter of Intent/Letter of Inquiry.
Getting Ready, Logic Model, and Program Planning and Evaluation Worksheet.
Key Components of a Grant Proposal.
Abstract: Write Last, Read First, Most Frequently Used.
Table of Contents: A Roadmap for Your Proposal.
Specific Aims: A Summary of Purpose and Results.
Target Population: To Whom It May Concern.
Approaches and Methods: What, Why, When, Where, Who, and How.
Agency Capacities and Project Management: The Service Providers and Program Management.
Budget and Budget Justifications: Program Plan in Dollars and Cents.
Evaluation Plan: Tell the Stories—Successes and Challenges.
Proposal Reviews.
Professional Insight 5.1: A Reviewer’s Perspective on Preparing Proposals.
Chapter 6 Program Evaluation.
The Level of Rigor.
Outcome-Focused Evaluation.
Empowerment Evaluation.
Outcome-Focused Empowerment Evaluation.
Indicators.
Data Source.
Instrument Type and Method of Evaluation.
Bringing Together the Indicator, Data Source, and Instrument Type.
Evaluation Section of a Proposal.
Evaluation Questions.
Methodology.
Targets for Success.
Evaluation Worksheet and Evaluation Plan.
Beyond the Grant Proposal.
Select/Develop Instruments.
Professional Insight 6.1: Tips for Anticipating Criticism and Planning Accordingly.
Getting Prepared for Data Collection.
Planning for Data Analysis.
Reporting Evaluation Results.
Turning Your Data into an Evaluation Report.
Chapter 7 Learning by Doing: Exercises, Templates, Samples, Checklists, and Training Ideas.
Samples and Self-Help Materials.
Section I: Needs Assessment.
Section II: Results Terminology and Logic Model.
Section III: Grant Application.
Section IV: Program Planning and Evaluation.
Section V: Instrument Development.
Section VI: Evaluation Plan.
Section VII: Interactive Group Activities.
Professional Insight 7.1: Program Improvement.
Chapter 8 Real-Life Samples.
Grant Proposals.
A Coordinated Approach to Youth: Prevention and Intervention Services in Sun Town.
Mandarin Chinese Class in Your School’s Proposals.
Evaluation Plans.
Evaluation Plan Sample.
Domestic Violence Prevention Program: Together with Services (TWS).
Chapter 9 Application of Information Technology.
Information Technology.
Funding Sources.
Grant Applications: Going Green.
Referencing Information Technology Sources.
Evaluation Methods and Technology.
Electronic Surveys.
Database Software.
Finding the Information Technology.
Author Index.
Subject Index.