Evaluating your program > Using and sharing your findings

Using and sharing your findings

Your evaluation can be a great tool to help you:

• Celebrate your achievements
• Set new goals and plan new activities
• Attract new members
• Communicate with your funders
• Attract media attention and get your message to the broader community

Too many evaluations sit on a shelf. Access to modern technologies offers many opportunities for creatively presenting and sharing your results. Think about how you might use computers, video recorders or colour printers to present your results. Consider different audiences and what might be the most effective way of presenting your results to them.

Some ideas for formats for different audiences are:

For funders:
Prepare a formal report for funders of your organization. Show them that you have completed your obligations and think about how to use the results creatively in ways that will make them want to continue supporting you.

Use a brief written summary to celebrate your achievements. It might be particularly useful to have a "thank you" summary list of what has been accomplished with the project. Your messages could describe the improved social, mental and physical health of older adults. Use pictures or stories to give your message a personal touch.

For members:
Create a poster announcing the key results. Reinforce your successes with a celebration of individual or collective achievements. For example, recognize the 25 members who were active for at least 30 minutes a day 75% of the days over the past 3 months.

Develop a 1-2 page pamphlet or brochure to reinforce positive changes in your centre.

For your community stakeholders or partners:
Produce a brief slide or video presentation that highlights their involvement and may encourage future shared initiatives.

For your community:
Send out a short press release summarizing achievements that might interest a journalist in doing a story about falls prevention or active living. This could give you a chance to promote your group and your cause, and to attract new members.

For other communities:
Post a brief summary of the results on your website or write a brief article in a newsletter to help spread the word and promote interest in your programs.