Grant Writing & Funding · 112: How to Write a Successful Evaluation Section in Grants with James Pann

How to Write a Successful Evaluation Section in Grants with James Pann

Do you know the difference between research and evaluation in a grant proposal?

Or can you describe what a logic model is used for?

This may seem like simple nuances, but not when you are writing a grant!

In a grant application, the evaluation section can be up to 30 points! That is a lot when considering to be in the final running, your grant normally needs to score 93+++ points.

Writing a good logic model can also determine if your grant gets awarded. Many times this section is up to 20 points on a grant application!

Eek! Are you sweating yet if you answered ‘no’ to the first question?

Dr. James Pann is on the podcast this week to break down the differences between evaluation and research, how to find someone to write the evaluation section, and what a logic model is.

This is a must listen-watch for those who want to tighten up their grant writing skills!

Questions James and I discuss:

What is evaluation?
Are research and evaluation the same thing?
Why should a grant writer care about program evaluation?
What are the types of questions that an evaluation can address?
What are the steps for conducting an evaluation?
What kind of data is collected for evaluation?
What is a logic model?
How is data visualization related to program evaluation?
Is a program evaluator different from a data scientist?
How to pick an evaluator?
How can others utilize the approach to get written into grants to get paid by grants?

Resources from this episode:

Kellogg Logic model
Overview of CIPP evaluation model (in the form of a checklist):
Podcast 172 with Dr. James Pann on evaluations in grant proposals

About Dr. James Pann

Dr. James Pann received his Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Texas at Austin. He obtained his M.S.Ed. in Mental Health Counseling and Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Miami. Dr. Pann completed his clinical internship at Nova Southeastern University Community Mental Health Center in neuropsychology, behavioral medicine, and adult and child psychotherapy. Additionally, he had a postdoctoral fellowship in pediatric behavioral medicine at the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami/ Jackson Memorial Medical Center. He also completed a Family Therapy Externship at the Center for Family Studies at the University of Miami.

Dr. Pann is also an Associate Professor at the Abraham S. Fischler College of Education where he focuses on teaching program evaluation and conducting research and evaluation projects. Dr. Pann is interested in the use of program evaluation approaches to study and improve educational, health and human service programs. He is a licensed psychologist in Florida and an active member of the American Evaluation Association.

Dr. Pann has been Principal Consultant of EvalNetwork, a research and evaluation consulting firm, since 2000. EvalNetwork specializes in working with education, health and human service organizations and grant making entities. The firm has worked on a wide variety of projects, from systems of care and other collaborations, to substance abuse, mental health and afterschool programs, with organizations of all sizes. EvalNetwork has worked as evaluator or research partner on local and national projects funded by foundations and government agencies.