Home > Projects > Health, Human Services, and Community Development Evaluation

Evaluation of the New Century Celebration Initiative

Client: The Foellinger Foundation
Term: January 2003–July 2004

The New Century Celebration Initiative (NCCI) is a five-year, $5 million program of grants and technical assistance intended to improve the efficiency of Allen County nonprofit organizations. CEEP's evaluation examined the impact of the NCCI as a whole as well as the implementation and outcomes associated with each individual component facilitating the needs and goals of certain nonprofit organizations. These components include Taylor University's Institute for Organizational Effectiveness, the Allen County Public Library, the United Way of Allen County, and Arts United.

The evaluation methodology included focus groups, surveys, observations, interviews, and document review. The evaluation provided data allowing the Foellinger Foundation and constituent organizations to improve the quality of programs; discern the impact of programs on the designated areas; and examine additional policy questions. The evaluation revealed how effectively each of the four grantees met the goals and outcomes that they identified at the outset of the grant, and provided a framework for ongoing process and outcome monitoring. The overall approach provided comprehensive and continuous evaluation of the design, implementation, processes, and impact of the NCCI.