The Evaluation Center

Multiple people collaborating in a conference room

Build a strong evaluation plan in one week

If you’ve been wanting to use data and evaluation to strengthen your program but haven’t had the time, support, or clarity to make it happen, the Evaluation Institute is for you.
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Join us May 11–15, 2026, in Kalamazoo, MI, for a hands-on week where you’ll build the core tools your initiative needs: logic models, evaluation questions, data collection plans, and more. Whether your initiative is brand new or well underway, you’ll leave with practical tools and a clear plan to measure and communicate your impact.

The Evaluation Center
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5237 USA
(269) 387-5895

Evaluation Institute

The Evaluation Institute, hosted by The Evaluation Center at Western Michigan University, is a five-day, in-person event designed specifically for nonprofit and program staff, as well as their internal evaluators, who want to build meaningful and manageable evaluation practices. 

Anyone working on an initiative; whether an organization, program, or movement, who wants to use data and evaluation to enhance their work. No prior evaluation experience is required. This institute is geared toward those ready to create evaluation plans and tools, not just learn about them. Whether your initiative is still in the planning stages or well underway, you’ll gain practical skills and tangible products to support your mission.

Each day includes interactive workshops, hands-on work time, and one-on-one support. You’ll apply key concepts directly to your own initiative as you develop foundational evaluation deliverables:

  • A logic model/theory of change
  • Evaluation questions and an evaluation use plan
  • A complete evaluation data matrix
  • Data collection instruments tailored to your context
  • A helpful plan outlining the next steps for your initiative

Led by experienced evaluation practitioners with interdisciplinary expertise, our team brings deep experience teaching practitioners—not just students—in engaging, accessible ways. 

By the end of the week, you’ll leave with a clear evaluation framework, ready-to-use tools, and a plan to communicate your impact, setting your initiative up for lasting success.

Date: May 11–15, 2026 

Time: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily

Location: Fetzer Center, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI

Pricing and Registration

Early bird pricing: $1,800 for the first two participants from the same organization, $300 for each additional (up to five per organization) until February 1, 2026. 

Ready to learn more? Let us know by filling out our quick interest form. We’ll reach out when registration opens.

Submit an interest form

Schedule

Curious about what your week will look like? Here's a breakdown of daily objectives and deliverables.

Learn how to communicate the “what,” “why,” and “how” of your initiative.


Deliverable: A logic model or theory of change.

Identify questions to guide your evaluation work and what success looks like for your program. 


Deliverables: Develop evaluation questions, an evaluation use plan, and begin an evaluation data matrix.

Discover data sources and strategies for collecting credible, practical, and useful data.


Deliverable: Complete your evaluation data matrix linking questions to indicators, methods, and sources.

Develop quantitative and qualitative tools tailored to your context.


Deliverable: Adapt, develop, or refine at least one data collection tool.

Learn strategies to effectively communicate your evaluation plan and findings.


Deliverables: Draft a one-page impact report, outline next-year milestones, and create a 10-minute presentation.