NonProfit Funding Application -- 2026-2027 Evaluation Criteria

Evaluating Criteria starts with three different value areas - Effective, Efficient and Aligned. Each value area has one or more criteria areas. Each criteria area has associated questions. Criteria areas are each given a different weighting in the final determination. An evaluative scale of one, two or three points is used for each item evaluated, and then the weighted percentage applied to the total points received. These are shown below.

Effective

The Effective category covers program and service quality, performance measurements, and organizational background and capacity.

Program and Service Quality (25% of total score)

Program and service quality evaluates program impact, program delivery, experience, and personnel, assigning points as shown below.

• One Point
  
  • Vague or incomplete description of program and/or service and its delivery; and/or
  • Does not use or consider evidence-informed approaches, and/or
  • Organization lacks experience in delivering similar program or services and/or does not have a plan for evaluating new and/or innovative programs and services; and/or
  • Staff delivering program or services are not qualified or experienced.
• Two Points
  
  • Somewhat clear and complete description of program and/or service and its delivery; and/or
  • Considers, but does not use, evidence-informed approaches; and/or
  • Organization has some experience in delivering similar program or services and/or has some plan for evaluating new and/or innovative programs and services; and/or
  • Some staff delivering program or services are qualified and experienced.
• Three Points
  
  • Clear and complete description of program and/or service and its delivery; and
  • Uses evidence-based or evidence-informed approaches; and
  • Organization experienced with demonstrated success in delivering similar programs or services, or has strong plan for evaluating new or innovative programs and service; and
  • Program and services staff are qualified and experienced.

Performance Measurements (15% of the total score)

Performance measurements evaluates performance measurement, outcome alignment, and the population served assigning points as shown below.

• One Point
  
  • Outputs and outcome are generally unclear, unachievable and irrelevant; and/or
  • Provides an unclear explanation of how outputs and outcomes support Board of Commissioner outcomes; and/or
  • Provides incomplete information about the population served.
• Two Points
  
  • Outputs and outcomes are generally clear, achievable and relevant; and/or
  • Provides a clear explanation of how outputs and outcomes support Board of Commissioner outcomes; and/or
  • Provides complete information about the population served.
• Three Points
  
  • All outputs and outcomes are clear, achievabe, and relevant; and
  • Provides a clear and convincing explanation of how outputs and outcomes support Board of Commissioner outcomes; and
  • Provides complete information about community need and population served.

Organizational Background and Capacity (10% of the total score)

Organizational background and capacity evaluates the mission and external agency evaluation assigning points as shown below.

• One Point
  
  • Organization does not have, or has an unclear, mission, vision and values; and/or
  • The organization does not receive external evaluations.
• Two Points
  
  • Organization has a mission, vision and values; and/or
  • The organization receives some external evaluations.
• Three Points 
  • Organization has a clear mission, vision and values; and
  • Organization receives regular external evaluations with minimal deficiencies and has a plan to address deficiencies.

Efficient

The Efficient category covers resource efficiency, and partnerships and collaborations.

Resource Efficiency (15% of the total score)

Resource efficiency evaluates volunteer hours, proposed program or service expenditures, fund leveraging and agency budget, assigning points as shown below.

• One Point
  
  • Does not utilize volunteer service; and/or
  • Presents an unclear, unreasonable or incomplete list of program and service expenditures; and/or
  • Does not demonstrate leveraging of county funds to support the full program and service budget; and/or
  • Has an unbalanced budget or does not demonstrate good financial health.
• Two Points
  
  • Utilizes some volunteer service; and/or
  • Presents a complete and generally clear and reasonable list of program and service expenditures; and/or
  • Demonstrates some leveraging of county funds to support the full program and service budget; and/or
  • Has a balanced budget and demonstrates good financial health.
• Three Points
  
  • Effectively utilizes volunteer service; and
  • Presents a complete, clear and reasonable list of program and service expenditures; and
  • Demonstrates effective leveraging of county funds to support the full program and service budget; and
  • Has a balanced budget and demonstrates excellent financial health.

Partnerships and Collaborations (10% of the total score)

Partnerships and Collaborations evaluates documentation, partnerships and collaboration, assigning points as shown below.

• One Point
  
  • Provides incomplete or inaccurate documentation of relevant partnerships and collaboration; and/or
  • Does not leverage partnerships to improve service delivery; and/or
  • Does not collaborate with other organizations in similar service areas.
• Two Points
  
  • Provides documentation of relevant partnerships and collaboration; and/or
  • Leverages some partnerships to improve service delivery; and/or
  • Collaborates to some extent with other organizations in similar service areas.
• Three Points
  
  • Provides complete and detailed documentation of relevant partnerships and collaboration; and
  • Effectively leverages partnerships to improve service delivery; and
  • Effectively collaborates with other organizations in similar service areas.

Aligned

The Aligned category covers demonstrated community need.

Demonstrated Community Need (25% of the total score)

Demonstrated Community Need evaluates alignment with Commissioner goals, program impact and the population served, assigning points as shown below.

• One Point
  
  • Unclear alignment with Board of Commissioner goals and outcomes; and/or
  • Does not provide, or provides weak, quantitative or qualitative evidence for program and/or service need; and/or
  • Does not provide an explanation for populations not being served and how they will increase service to these populations.
• Two Points
  
  • Demonstrates some alignment with Commissioner goals and outcomes; and/or
  • Provides some convincing quantitative and qualitative evidence for program and/or service need; and/or
  • Provides an explanation for populations not being served and how they will increase service to these populations.
• Three Points
  
  • Demonstrates clear alignment with Commissioner; and
  • Provides convincing quantitative and qualitative evidence for program and/or service need; and
  • Provides a strong explanation for populations not being served and how service to these populations will be increased.