Description of Services
Programs funded by federal agencies such as NSF, NIH, USAID, DoD, AHRQ and private foundations require rigorous program evaluation. Proposals require formal evaluation plans that describe methods for evaluating program outcomes and impact, and for improving the program over time. Evaluation plans are scored in proposal review.
Subsidized Pre-Award Services
We provide all Northwestern affiliated investigators an initial one hour consultation, subsidized by the Office of Research, Feinberg, McCormick and Weinberg schools. Proposal writing (i.e. developing evaluation plans and evaluation budgets) is also supported at no cost to Feinberg, McCormick and Weinberg faculty.
Subsidized Post-Award Evaluation Services
We provide post-award evaluation services for grants, like T32s, TL1s, KL2s, R25s and others that have either no budget for evaluation or significantly limit funds for evaluation. These services are subsidized by the Office of Research, Feinberg, McCormick and Weinberg schools.
Grant Supported Post-Award Evaluation Services
We provide post-award evaluation services for grants that require evaluation and provide funds for evaluation. Northwestern University Program Evaluation Core faculty and staff collaborate with PIs to write the evaluation plan for the proposal and conduct the evaluation if the proposal is funded. We develop an evaluation budget that includes effort for evaluation core staff and additional costs like focus group transcription, meeting costs and required travel. We can help PIs identify reputable external evaluators if an evaluator external to Northwestern is also required.