Advocacy Evaluation Resource List

November 2007

Common Questions / Resources
  1. What is different about evaluating advocacy?
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  • Coffman, J. (2007). What’s different about evaluating advocacy and policy change? The Evaluation Exchange, 13(1).
  • Egbert, M., & Hoechstetter, S. (2006). Mission possible: Evaluating advocacy grants. Foundation News & Commentary, 47(1).

  1. What evaluation approaches work well for advocacy?
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  • Guthrie, K., Louie, J., & Foster, C.C. (2005). The challenge of assessing policy and advocacy activities: Strategies for a prospective evaluation approach. Blueprint Research & Design for The California Endowment.
  • Guthrie, K., Louie, J., & Foster, C.C. (2006). The challenge of assessing policy and advocacy activities: Part II—Moving from theory to practice. Blueprint Research & Design for The California Endowment.
  • Continuous Progress website from the Global Interdependence Initiative
  • Patton, M.Q. (2006). Evaluation for the way we work. The Nonprofit Quarterly, 13(1), 28-33.

  1. What resources can help with advocacy theories of change?
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  • Advocacy Progress Planner website: planning.continuousprogress.org
  • Coffman, J. (2007). Evaluation based on theories of the policy process. The Evaluation Exchange, 13(1).
  • Theories of the policy process
  • Kingdon, J. W. (1995). Agendas, alternatives, and public policies (2nd ed.). New York: Longman.
  • Sabatier, P. A. (2007). Theories of the policy process (2nd edition). Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
  • Birkland, T. A. (2001). An introduction to the policy process: Theories, concepts, and models of public policy making. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe.

  1. What outcomes and measures are relevant for advocacy?
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  • Coffman, J., Hendricks, A., Kaye, J., Kelly, T., & Masters, B. (2007).The advocacy and policy change composite logic model.Contact:
  • Reisman, J., Geinapp, A., & Stachowiak, S. (2007). A guide to measuring advocacy and policy. Organizational Research Services
  • Alliance for Justice. Build Your Advocacy Grantmaking: Advocacy Capacity Assessment Tool & Advocacy Evaluation Tool.
  • Women’s Funding Network (2004). Making the case: A learning and measurement tool for social change.
  • Chapman, J. & Wameyo, A. (2001). Monitoring and evaluating advocacy: A scoping study. Paper completed for Action Aid.
  • Urban Institute and the Center for What Works (2007). Candidate Outcome Indicators: Advocacy Program.
  • Coffman, J. (2005). Public communication campaign evaluation: An environmental scan of challenges, criticisms, practice, and opportunities
  • Wilson-Grau, R., & Nuñez, M. (2007). Evaluating international social-change networks: A conceptual framework for a participatory approach. Development in Practice, 17(2), 258-271.

Common Questions / Resources
  1. What methods are particularly well-suited to advocacy?
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  • Various data collection tools: Reisman, J., Geinapp, A., & Stachowiak, S. (2007). A handbook of data collection tools: A companion to “Guide to measuring advocacy and policy.” Organizational Research Services.
  • Advocacy capacity assessment: TCC Group’s soon-to-be-completed paper on defining and measuring core capacities for advocacy organizations. Contact:
  • Media analysis: Douglas Gould & Company (2004). Writing a media analysis.
  • Public polling: Belden Russonello& Stewart (2004). Using survey research to evaluate communication campaigns
  • Electronic advocacy tracking: M+R Strategic Services (2006). eNonprofit benchmarks study.
  • Intense-period debrief: Bagnell-Stuart, J. (2007). Necessity leads to innovative evaluation approach and practice. The Evaluation Exchange, 13(1)
  • Bellwether methodology: Blair, E. (2007). Evaluating an issue’s position on the policy agenda: The bellwether methodology. The Evaluation Exchange, 13(1).
  • Blog tracking: Technorati ( Google Blog Search (blogsearch.google.com); BlogPulse(

  1. Where can I find examples of advocacy evaluations?
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  • Applied Research Center (2004). Power, participation, & state-based politics: An Evaluation of the Ford Foundation’s Collaborations that Count Initiative.
  • Coffman, J. (2003). Lessons in evaluating communication campaigns: Five case studies.
  • See pp.46-47 in Guthrie, K., Louie, J., & Foster, C.C. (2005). The challenge of assessing policy and advocacy activities: Strategies for a prospective evaluation approach.

  1. What other foundations are evaluating advocacy?
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  • Harvard Family Research Project (2007). Pioneers in the field: Four foundations on advocacy evaluation. The Evaluation Exchange, 13(1)
  • Blair, J. & Twersky, F. (2004). Evaluating social change: Meeting summary for the Marguerite Casey Foundation.

  1. Where can I find evaluators who do this kind of work?
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  • The American Evaluation Association (AEA) Advocacy and Policy Change Topical Interest Group (TIG)

  1. How can I stay up-to-date on advocacy evaluation?
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  • Innovation Network Clearinghouse of advocacy evaluation resources
  • Innovation Network Advocacy Evaluation Update newsletter