Non-Profit – Community Training Program Evaluation

Evaluated the effectiveness of community training programs for CareerEdge Funders Collaborative.

 

 

Capabilities Enabled:

Insight into the effectiveness and impact of the three year $5.8 million dollar investment in regional workforce development.

Impact Created:

Discovered that across three years the $5.8 million investment helped to generate:

  • 2,565 people trained
  • 468 people promoted
  • 825 new jobs
  • 1,505 people earned raises
  • $22 million in new wages and raises.
  • Each $1 invested leads to $3-4 impact on the regional economy.

Summary:

CareerEdge Funders Collaborative (CEFC) funds training programs and works with employers to help unemployed, low- and middle-wage workers obtain self-sustaining wages that enhances their employer’s productivity which, in turn, impacts the regional community. The program goals and evaluation questions addressed were:

  • Goal 1: Move low-wage workers into higher-paying jobs.
    • Evaluation Question: Did CEFC’s program participants move into higher-paying jobs?
  • Goal 2: Provide employers with the skilled employees they need.
    • Evaluation Question: Did the employers’ partnership with CEFC support in establishing a high-performing workforce?
  • Goal 3: Demonstrate community/regional impact.
    • Evaluation Question: Have client-trained employees and their employers contributed to the local/regional community?

A process logic models was created to guide the evaluation strategy, success metrics, data collection and communication strategy. The logic model is used to assess the causal (if-then) relationships between the program outputs. At the conclusion of each year, data were captured, analyzed and each evaluation questions was answered.

About CEFC:

CareerEdge Funders Collaborative is a Florida- based non-profit with a mission to provide an exceptional labor force to a region’s growing industries by leveraging community assets and forming high-performing workforce partnerships.

The Challenge:

To demonstrate the value and impact of funded training programs to investors, employers, the community, and learners.

The Solution:

During the planning phase, a stakeholder group was established and a process logic model was created to guide the evaluation strategy, success metrics, data collection and communication strategy. SPP worked with CEFC, employers, and learners to capture quantitative and qualitative data outlined in the logic model. Data such as training participation, raises, promotions, terminations, job placement, wages, learner interviews, and employer interviews were collected to craft the impact story. All data were analyzed in order to answer the evaluation questions. Mid-year and annual report were generated and presented to the stakeholder group. The final reports were posted on CEFC’s website.

At the conclusion of each year, data were captured, analyzed and each evaluation questions was answered.

The Outcome:

  • CEFC, funders, and employers recognized the areas where their programs are creating the most impact.
  • CEFC was able to use the evaluation findings for marketing and fund raising initiatives.