Do you think so?
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Charity Navigator Limitation
These days I focus a part of evaluation in Charity Navigator named Financials. Based on my relative background, I think there is a big limitation in this part, because only use absolute numbers to evaluate the organization without considering its mission, development, and future capacity. I need evaluate two organizations in Charity Navigator project. One is much bigger or more successful than another apparently based on what they reported in 990 forms. One reason is the difference between their mission and working fields, the bigger one is no doubt has more social influences and stronger networks. But, based on Forces for Good and other materials we read this semester, I think we should add something more than those already exist. We'd better to put some attentions on their future development. According to their Financials part again, the smaller one shows a good future growth, compared the increasing rate from the beginning of the year and the end of the year. In other parts, comprehensively evaluating their future development is also important for us, but the on-line evaluation form does not provide spaces to do that. I think I can only do it in my own report.
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I agree with you Ying. There are many limitations the Charity Navigator and the one you mention is a big one. However, we have to realize that there is only so much that can be done in an online evaluation system. The more that goes into it, the more time it takes, and eventually, less people will choose to partake in evaluating.
ReplyDeleteFor the most part, I do think CN does a good job in addressing many of the key issues of a nonprofit. But there are other crucial areas that need to be addressed but seem impossible to put into an evaluation without making it a mundane, long and boring task. I guess it's up to us to provide extra evaluations of our own just as you suggested. And, we have the ability to do that; to choose our own criteria when evaluating effectiveness, accountability and impact in our upcoming assignments.