--- title: Capitalizing on non-technical factors to improve the success of evaluations description: Ben Liadsky will be presenting alongside Andrew Taylor and three Vibrant Communities panelists. They will explore non-technical factors that can set the stage for successful evaluation, and will highlight ways that we can capitalize on these factors to improve the likelihood that they lead to action. image: https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Headshots/Ben_Liadsky.png?t=1464971309816&width=150 --- [![20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Administration/Tamarack%20Logos/20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange.png?width=200&height=47&name=20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange.png "20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange")](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/?hsLang=en-us) # Capitalizing on non-technical factors to improve the success of evaluations Posted on June 3, 2016 [By Alison Homer](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/author/alison-homer) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) While non-profit organizations sometimes struggle with technical aspects of evaluation, their strengths often lie in non-technical areas, such as relationship building and communication. ![Ben Liadsky](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Headshots/Ben_Liadsky.png?t=1464971309816&width=150&height=151&name=Ben_Liadsky.png) In a recent [blog post](http://theonn.ca/evaluation-theory-of-change/), Ben Liadsky from the [Ontario Nonprofit Network](http://theonn.ca/) reflects on some challenges faced by non-profits in the realm of evaluation: - There is a lot of pressure within the non-profit sector to evaluate our work via an ever-growing number of measures and reports - Heavy focuses on accountability to funders and the mechanics of evaluation diminish the potential for non-profits to achieve their missions through learning and action So, how do we ensure that evaluations truly benefit non-profits themselves, and consistently lead to new insight? - We need to ensure that evaluations tell our own community stories, and answer our own important questions - We need to increase dialogue and create safe spaces where we can critically reflect on, and better understand, learn, and grow from our data - We need to increase our commitment to the use of evaluation findings, including drawing on that information to guide future practice Join us on our upcoming webinar, where Ben Liadsky will be presenting alongside Andrew Taylor and three Vibrant Communities panelists. They will explore non-technical factors that can set the stage for successful evaluation, and will highlight ways that we can capitalize on these factors to improve the likelihood that they lead to action.  [Evaluations That Work: What the Non-Profit Sector Can Learn from the Ontario Nonprofit Network and Vibrant Communities](https://events.tamarackcommunity.ca/evaluations-that-work?hsLang=en-us) | Wednesday June 22nd, 2016 | 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm EDT **Learn more:** - **Webinar: **[Evaluations That Work: What the Non-Profit Sector Can Learn from the Ontario Nonprofit Network and Vibrant Communities](https://events.tamarackcommunity.ca/evaluations-that-work?hsLang=en-us) - **Blog**: [Making Evaluation Work for Nonprofits: Our Theory of Change](http://theonn.ca/evaluation-theory-of-change/) - **Website**: [Ontario Nonprofit Network](http://theonn.ca/) Topics: [Evaluating Community Impact](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/topic/evaluating-community-impact), [Alison Homer](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/topic/alison-homer), [Cities Reducing Poverty](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/topic/cities-reducing-poverty) ![Alison Homer](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/Photos/Staff%20Photos%202026/Alison%20Homer%202.jpg) ### By [Alison Homer](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/author/alison-homer) Advancing a vision of ending poverty in Canada, Alison provides leadership and drives excellence within Communities Ending Poverty (CEP). Her team actions an initial focus on ending working poverty, partnering with thought leaders and members from multiple sectors to identify levers and opportunities, influence policies, and shift systems. ## Related Posts [![](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/Summit-for-strength-dias.png)](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/event-recap-communities-ending-poverty-summit-for-strength?hsLang=en-us) #### [Event Recap: Communities Ending Poverty: Summit for Strength](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/event-recap-communities-ending-poverty-summit-for-strength?hsLang=en-us) [![](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/Quilt.png)](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/learning-indigenous-ways-of-knowing-and-being?hsLang=en-us) #### [Learning Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Being](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/learning-indigenous-ways-of-knowing-and-being?hsLang=en-us) [![](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/Hands-together.png)](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/together-for-strength-policy-change-and-community?hsLang=en-us) #### [Together for Strength, Policy Change, and Community](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/together-for-strength-policy-change-and-community?hsLang=en-us) [![BACK TO THE LATEST](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/316071/e6ffa9bb-4467-4833-8ecc-eb340b11d829.png)](http://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/316071/e6ffa9bb-4467-4833-8ecc-eb340b11d829) [![20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Administration/Tamarack%20Logos/20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange.png?width=3401&name=20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange.png "20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange")](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/?hsLang=en-us) ### Tamarack [Home](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/?hsLang=en-us) [Latest](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest) [Events](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/eventlisting?hsLang=en-us) [Donate](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/donate?hsLang=en-us) [About](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/whoweare?hsLang=en-us) ### Follow Us [** ** ](https://www.facebook.com/TamarackInstitute) [** ** ](https://twitter.com/Tamarack_Inst) [** ** ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/tamarack-institute-for-community-engagement)   In the spirit of respect, reciprocity, and truth we honour and acknowledge that our work occurs across Turtle Island (North America), which has been home since time immemorial to the ancestors of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples. ### Subscribe Be in the know. 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