Evaluation
It is important to regularly collect data that will allow coalition members and funders to evaluate the coalition’s effectiveness. Data takes many forms and should not be limited to only surveys and interviews. Consider collecting the following information:
- General coalition meeting information (date, time, location, minutes, list of attendees)
- Number of coalition members at events, including meetings and coalition sponsored programs—make sure to have a sign-in sheet at all events
- Number of people attending coalition sponsored programs and events
- Hours spent on coalition work (possibly broken down by project)
- Number of events or projects completed
- Number of policy changes achieved
Sustainability planning is critical to creating a roadmap to solving complex problems and makes your efforts better focused on achieving long-term impact.