Nonprofit Program Evaluation Specialist

Career Guide
Nonprofit Program Evaluation Specialists design and run evaluations to determine if programs achieve intended outcomes. They plan data collection, analyze quantitative and qualitative data, and translate findings into clear recommendations that improve services and inform grants and strategy.

Key Responsibilities

  • Design logic models, theories of change, and evaluation plans
  • Develop surveys, interview guides, and data collection protocols
  • Analyze quantitative and qualitative data; ensure data quality
  • Build dashboards and reports to communicate outcomes to stakeholders
  • Present findings and actionable recommendations to leadership and funders
  • Support grant reporting, outcome tracking, and compliance
  • Train staff on data collection and evaluation best practices

Career Progression

Can Lead To
Senior Program Evaluation Specialist
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Manager
Director of Evaluation & Learning
Transition Opportunities
Program Manager
Data Analyst (social impact)
Grant Program Officer (foundation)
Policy Research Analyst

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills
Quasi-experimental impact evaluation methodsSurvey design and instrument validationQualitative analysis and coding (NVivo or Dedoose)Building dashboards with Tableau or Power BIDeveloping logic models and measurable KPIs
Development SuggestionsTake an applied program evaluation course and complete CITI Human Subjects Research training; do a pro bono evaluation via Catchafire or Taproot to produce a logic model, survey, findings brief, and a Tableau/Power BI dashboard.

Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range
Entry Level$55,000-$70,000
Mid Level$70,000-$90,000
Senior Level$90,000-$120,000
Growth Trend
growing — Funders expect evidence of impact; nonprofits expanding MEL capacity

Companies Hiring

Major Employers
United WayAmerican Red CrossSave the Children US
Industry Sectors
Non-Profit & Social ImpactPhilanthropy & FoundationsInternational DevelopmentPublic Health & Human Services

Recommended Next Steps

1
Complete an applied Program Evaluation course/certificate (e.g., University of Washington, University of Michigan, or AEA workshops).
2
Earn Tableau Desktop Specialist or Microsoft PL-300 and publish a sample dashboard using nonprofit data.
3
Do a pro bono evaluation project through Catchafire/Taproot to build a portfolio and seek feedback from your local AEA affiliate.