Program Overview

Professional Certificate in Nonprofit Program Evaluation

The Professional Certificate in Nonprofit Program Evaluation is a 6-month virtual professional certificate program designed to support public sector and nonprofit professionals in developing their public service career, especially those who make programmatic decisions and report on impact to stakeholders.

About the Program

This program is intended for individuals who want to develop their skills in program evaluation, with no prior experience in evaluation or assessment work required. The program provides personalized support, including expert instruction, feedback, and mentorship from program staff. Participants will design and implement a program evaluation and complete a report for their organization, receiving vital work experience while gaining expertise in program evaluation.

Program Details

The NPI Evaluation Framework

The program uses a culturally-responsive and equitable evaluation framework, which involves:

• Accounting for and respecting culture and context throughout the evaluation process
• Including stakeholder voice in the evaluation as much as possible
• Striving to ensure the evaluation approach reveals structural and systems-level drivers of inequity that impact programs
• Disseminating results of the evaluation widely
• Using findings of the evaluation to build the capacity of community and community organizations

What's Included in the Program

• Virtual workshops between January 2026 and May 2026
• Personalized 1:1 consultation on the evaluation project, including coaching sessions
• Guides and materials
• Graduates will be awarded a Professional Certificate in Nonprofit Program Evaluation

2026 Session Dates

Each session will be held online from 9:00-3:00 p.m. (Pacific) on the following dates:

• January 10, 2026
• January 24, 2026
• February 7, 2026
• February 21, 2026
• March 7, 2026
• April 4, 2026
• May 2, 2026
• May 16, 2026 (presentations)

Program Completion Requirements

To earn a certificate, participants must:

• Complete assignments and readings (ranging from 8-24 hours per month outside the session)
• Collaborate with key interest holders as much as feasible through the evaluation process
• Develop data collection instruments, such as questionnaires and interview guides
• Collect and analyze data and compile findings and recommendations; or create a data collection and analysis plan
• Submit a final product and present an overview of the evaluation project at the final session

By the end of the program, participants will be able to:

• Explain the function and purpose of culturally-responsive and ethical program evaluation
• Identify interest holders
• Solicit and integrate interest holder input
• Design and prepare an evaluation plan
• Develop appropriate data collection instruments
• Collect and analyze basic quantitative and qualitative data
• Interpret and report findings and conclusions, and make recommendations for the program

2026 Program Cost

The program costs for the 2026 cohort are:

• Full program option (attending remote sessions + mentorship): $2600 (register by 12/23/2025 for a $200 discount)
• Additional participant working on the same project: $1200 per extra participant
• Go-at-your-own-pace option (no session attendance): $2600 (register by 12/23/2025 for a $200 discount)

Instructors

The program instructors are:

• Dr. Jillian Girard, NPI Faculty Lead
• Diane L. Odeh, MPA, NPI Mentor and Instructor

Is This Program Right for You?

The program is suitable for individuals who:

• Can invest 8-24 hours per month outside of sessions to complete class assignments
• Are comfortable receiving and using constructive feedback on their project
• Are meaningfully involved with a public organization in which they will conduct an evaluation

The program is also suitable for organizations that:

• Are public sector organizations (not limited to nonprofits)
• Have leadership that is familiar with the program and will support the participant in their work

Application Process

The application process involves:

• Reviewing the application instructions
• Preparing application materials, including:
  • A Statement of Interest (one page) describing professional background, prior experience with program evaluation, and questions to be answered through evaluation efforts
  • A Letter of Commitment (one page) signed by the organization's Executive Director or senior leadership team, detailing why the organization believes this is a good time to participate in the program and confirming support for the participant
• Submitting the application
• Registering upon application approval