Program Development
& Evaluation Certificate
Winter 2025 Schedule: Jan. 8, 15, 22, & 29
Four half-day sessions, 9am – 12pm. Via Zoom.
Beginner level.
Are you looking to develop effective programs for your nonprofit or government organization but unsure where to start? This beginner to intermediate-level course is designed just for you! Learn how to create thoughtful programs that gain stakeholder support and achieve significant impacts.
Through CVNL’s Program Development & Evaluation Certificate Series, you’ll explore essential steps to program development, including needs assessments, logic models, and research tools. This course will guide you through the fundamentals of designing, implementing, and evaluating successful programs.
Offered via Zoom, this certificate program provides:
- Enhanced Program Effectiveness: Participants will learn how to design programs that directly address community needs, resulting in more effective and impactful initiatives that better serve their target populations.
- Increased Stakeholder Engagement: By mastering stakeholder engagement techniques, participants will be able to build stronger relationships with stakeholders, leading to greater support and collaboration for their programs.
- Improved Evaluation Practices: With the skills to create thorough program evaluations, participants can systematically assess their programs’ success and areas for improvement, ensuring continuous enhancement and sustainability of their initiatives.
By the end of the course, you will have created a program evaluation plan, giving you a practical tool to apply in your organization. Whether you’re new to program development or looking to strengthen your existing knowledge, this course will equip you with the tools to help your organization thrive.
CVNL is pleased to offer partial scholarships to Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and under-represented individuals who are nonprofit staff or volunteers serving in Marin, Napa, Sonoma, and Solano Counties.
These scholarships are made available by generous grants from the Peter A., and Vernice H. Gasser Foundation, the Community Foundation of Sonoma County, the Solano Community Foundation, Marin Community Foundation, and U.S. Bank. For more information on scholarships, please click here or contact us at learning@cvnl.org.
View the Info Session for the Program Development & Evaluation Series
Program Details
- Winter 2025: January , 8, 15, 22, and 29. Four half-day sessions via Zoom.
- Tuition: The full series is $795 for CVNL members. For non-members, the price is $895.
- Tuition discounts: 10% discount for groups of 3 or organizations with budget size under $750K.
- Tuition includes: All materials, including handouts and additional web resources.
- Limited to 26 people.
- CVNL Certificate of Completion awarded to participants who register for the full series and complete course requirements.
- BIPOC scholarship available for eligible BIPOC participants who are CVNL members serving Marin, Napa, Sonoma, and Solano counties.
2025 Schedule
Day 1 - January 9 from 9 am to 12 pm PST - Needs Assessment, Best Practices, and Program Description
The foundation of a strong program description is based on a need assessment and best practices in the field of your program. This course will dive deeper into specific structures and processes of your program. Session will cover:
- The process to conduct a needs assessment
- Understanding who the program will benefit
- Exploring the resources needed from internal and external environments
- Determining best practices and Theory of Change
Designing quality programs requires clear descriptions that allow teams to easily create and implement services. This course will clearly define the specific structures and processes of your program. Session will cover:
- Creating a logic model
- Creating a program description
- Developing a programs’ goals & objectives
- Developing a project timeline
Program evaluation helps you understand the effectiveness of your program. What kind of analysis will the information require? The session will cover the following topics:
- Define evaluation questions and evaluation boundaries
- Find out the difference between formative vs. summative evaluation
- Learn about data collection methods including surveys and interviews
This session focuses on the process to manage, analyze, and report your data. Learn about how to benefit your program fundraising and organizational development goals with the data. This session includes the following:
- How to code your data
- The process to implement data entry and analyze the data
- Reporting the evaluation results
Cancellation policy: If plans change and you are no longer able to attend, we will transfer your enrollment and payment to the next program cycle. Funds must be applied and used within a 6 (six) month period. We do not offer refunds.
PROGRAM FACULTY
Jolie Mason, Ed.D., Mission Quest
CVNL is pleased to partner with MissionQuest to offer this Program Development & Program Evaluation Certificate. MissionQuest has earned a reputation for success by partnering with hundreds of organizations in achieving their goals.
Dr. Jolie Mason is an accomplished leadership coach, executive director, and nonprofit management consultant. Throughout her career, Dr. Mason has held crucial leadership positions and worked together with private, public, and nonprofit organizations. She holds a bachelor’s degree in human services, a master’s degree in public administration, and a doctorate in education from the University of Southern California’s Organizational Change and Leadership program. With over two decades of experience, Dr. Mason has a proven track record of hands-on leadership expertise, which she brings to her engagements. She has also completed an array of certificate programs in nonprofit management, grants management and administration, and human resources management, further enhancing her proficiency. Dr. Mason is committed to partnering with organizations and coaching current and emerging leaders in refining their operational frameworks through the application of resources, tools, and strategies. Founded in 2016, Zodan Consulting is a boutique consulting firm specializing in nonprofit management. Led by Dr. Jolie Mason, she offers an outside perspective and expert advice to improve organizational operations. With a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by community-based nonprofits, Dr. Mason provides tailored solutions and practical strategies to help organizations maximize their social impact. Zodan Consulting’s approach is collaborative and results-oriented, ensuring clients receive personalized attention. Services include strategic planning, program development and evaluation, contract/grant compliance, organizational operations, talent management, and leadership development. Dr. Mason is dedicated to empowering nonprofits to thrive in a rapidly changing landscape, ensuring they can continue making a meaningful difference in their communities.
Sponsored in part by:
If you have any questions about Learning & Leadership Development or other CVNL training opportunities, contact:
learning@cvnl.org