Organization Name / The Public Good Initiative (PGI)
Organization Description / PGI is the student-led pro bono consulting organization of the University of Toronto’s School of Public Policy and Governance (SPPG). We match our student consultants with community organizations looking to benefit from our policy-based consulting services. The mission of the PGI is to make a positive contribution to the policy capacity of the not-for-profit sector.
Division or Department / None
Website / http://publicgoodinitiative.ca/
PROJECT INFORMATION
Project Description
PLEASE BE AS CLEAR AND SPECIFIC AS POSSIBLE, i.e. What is the problem that your organization is trying to solve?
Why is it an important problem?
How will the project help your organization in the short- or long-run?
How does the project fit into your organization’s regular operations? / In order to evaluate and improve the consultant and client experience and to measure the extent of our community impact, PGI would like consultants to conduct a thorough evaluation of the program. Each year, PGI has conducted internal evaluation to focus on the operations of the program, as well as the experiences of consultants and clients. This year, PGI hopes to continue this process in addition to the development of an external evaluation framework to measure the overall impact of PGI on the greater community.
The objective of this project is to evaluate PGI’s processes and practices, and to develop final recommendations. The evaluation will help PGI to:
• Ensure its transparency;
• Document its yearly successes and challenges;
• Identify and pursue opportunities for improvement;
• Identify and pursue ways to ensure the most valuable learning experience for consultants, improve project and client outcomes, as well as contribute to the broader public good;
• To grow and uphold the PGI’s reputation;
• Provide the organization with impact measurements to assist PGI in its long-term goals.
With guidance from PGI’s directors and Board of Advisors, consultants will design the evaluations, gather and analyze data, make recommendations, and present their findings to PGI’s directors and Board of Advisors. The final deliverable will be a report that summarizes their findings and recommendations.
Desired Project Start Date / October 2014
Project Duration / 7 - 8 months
Research and Analysis Required / Internal evaluation: Consultants will be responsible for compiling, organizing, and analyzing data from PGI’s past and current clients, consultants, and directors. In addition, consultants will conduct research on other student-led consulting organizations in order to learn about best practices. Consultants will be required to administer surveys, interviews, focus groups, and other relevant research methods.
External evaluation: Consultants will research existing evaluation frameworks and models used for impact measurement in similar programs. Based on this research, consultants will identify indicators and methods for measurement to develop a framework that can be used and adapted for future years. (Note: while the internal evaluation is well established and will be carried out in full, the external component will only consist of creating a standard model that will be used in the upcoming years).
Final Deliverables Expected / Consultants will prepare the following deliverables:
1) Evaluation report (approximately 10-15 pages, including visuals, appendices, etc.); and
2) A presentation of their findings and recommendations to PGI’s directors and Board of Advisors.
Timelines / Midway report delivered by January 31, 2016. Final program evaluation report to be delivered by May 31, 2016.
Resources to be Provided / Consultants will have access to internal planning as well as historical documents for an initial document review.
PGI Directors (Cayla, Celine, Jordann and Tracy) will be available for bi-weekly meetings and check-ins to review the project’s progress and provide feedback as necessary. Directors will also assist consultants with securing other necessary resources (e.g. space to conduct interviews, budget for printing).
Project Impact / This project will identify how well PGI serves its clients, consultants, and the broader community, and will thereby assist PGI identify organizational successes and opportunities for improvement.
The external evaluation framework will be used in the upcoming years to measure the community impact of PGI.
CONSULTANT INFORMATION
Number of Consultants Required / 3-4
Expected Hours per Week, per Consultant / Approximately 2 hours per week, per consultant.
What the Consultants can Expect / Consultants can expect a professional, policy-based consulting and program evaluation experience that would complement SPPG’s first- year curriculum. By designing and facilitating an evaluation of PGI, consultants will gain valuable skills that will be transferable to work in the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors. Consultants will also have the opportunity to work closely with the PGI directors and learn about PGI’s clients and projects.
Expected Qualifications* / Consultants should possess excellent written and verbal communication skills, strong analytical skills, experience with quantitative and/or qualitative research methods, and independent project management. Experience in program evaluation is not required, but is an asset.
PROJECT COORDINATOR CONTACT INFORMATION
Contact Person and Title / Cayla Baarda – Director, Internal Relations
Celine Maiolino – Director, Client Relations
Jordann Thirgood – Director, Operations
Tracy Wang – Director, Client Relations
Address / c/o the School of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Toronto
Canadiana Building, 3rd floor
14 Queen’s Park Cres. West
Toronto, ON
M5S 3K9
Canada
Telephone / n/a
Fax / n/a
Email / Cayla Baarda –
Celine Maiolino –
Jordann Thirgood –
Tracy Wang –
OTHER INFORMATION
n/a
* Note: this information will be used to help PGI directors with the consultant assignment process. There is no guarantee that the PGI will assign consultants with these specific characteristics.
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