Evaluating What Matters 2026

About the Program

Evaluating What Matters: Using Data for Insight and Impact is a four-part, interactive workshop for Southern Nevada nonprofit professionals, designed to help build skills in collecting, managing, analyzing, and using program data, so you can strengthen your programs and clearly show the impact you're making. Through a mix of practical instruction and hands-on learning, you'll apply what you learn directly to your own program using the data you already have.

This workshop walks you through the entire evaluation process from start to finish. You'll learn how to build a logic model (a simple map connecting what your program does to the results you're hoping to create), design tools for collecting data, conduct simple data analysis, and share that information in ways that speak to your audience.

You'll get clear on what success looks like for your program, figure out how to measure it, and walk away with a program evaluation plan you can put to work right away. Stronger evaluation practices don't just improve your programs. They also strengthen your grant applications, give you clear evidence for funders, and provide real-time insight to guide decisions along the way.

Eligibility Requirement:
To make the most of your time in this workshop, we ask that participants bring data specific to one program. If you are collecting data for a specific program, please bring whatever information you have. This can include intake forms, tracking sheets, case notes, client stories, CRMs, or spreadsheets. If you have any form of program information, you’re ready for this workshop!.

This Program is For You If

If any of these scenarios sound familiar, this workshop was built with you in mind:

You regularly collect information from clients or program participants, but you're not sure it's telling you what you actually need to know
You send surveys and report output numbers to stakeholders, but you're not confident those results are actually shaping how your programs run
You know participants are satisfied, but you're not sure that's the same thing as knowing you're creating real impact
You can tell a compelling story about your program's impact, but you don't have the data to back it up
Your funders ask "how do you know it's working?" and you'd love to have a stronger answer ready

Who Should Apply?

Beginner–Intermediate level. No prior program evaluation experience required. Designed for Southern Nevada nonprofits of all sizes.

Nonprofit professionals involved in any part of the evaluation cycle, whether program planning, tracking, analyzing, or reporting on program data, will get value from Evaluating What Matters. It's built for two kinds of starting points:

Those who aren't currently doing data or program evaluation, but want to learn the fundamentals of high quality evaluation: maybe it's not part of your role yet, but you know it should be, or you're curious how it could strengthen your program.
Those who are already doing data or program evaluation and want to get better at it: you're in it, but you're looking to sharpen your skills, tools, or approach.

Wherever you fall between those two, you're in the right place. Program participants also include people who:

Oversee service delivery and track participant outcomes
Work directly with data collection, measurement, or evaluation and want to strengthen those practices
Can influence decisions at the highest level of their organization and use data to inform strategy, communicate impact, or guide organizational decisions
Are responsible for funder reporting, outcomes measurement, or demonstrating program impact

Since this is a working workshop, participants must come prepared with their own program data, so that concepts learned can be applied in real time.

What You'll Leave With

Over four interactive days, you'll move from foundational concepts to practical, ready-to-use skills you can apply right away. Here's what you'll walk away with:

Clearly defined program outcomes and select indicators that reflect real change for the populations you serve
A practical, right-sized evaluation plan aligned with your program logic and organizational capacity
A data collection plan that is consistent, organized, and supports both compliance and learning
An understanding of basic analysis techniques to identify patterns and insights within their existing data.
Simple data visuals and a drafted narrative that communicates findings to funders, boards, and community stakeholders
An understanding of how to utilize Generative AI to streamline planning, data collection design, analysis, and reporting.

Training Dates & Times

Sessions are held in person from 8:30am- 12:30pm, with office hours available virtually between each one, so you'll have ongoing support right when you need it.

Day 1 · August 25, 2026: The Foundation: Clarity, logic, outcomes
Day 2 · August 27, 2026: The Blueprint: Planning, data collection
Day 3 · September 1, 2026: The Insights: Analysis, storytelling
Day 4 · September 3, 2026: The AI Advantage: Applying AI to strengthen your evaluation work

Location: TBA upon acceptance into the program. Virtual office hours for small group or 1:1 support will be offered on Wednesdays August 26, 2026 and September 2, 2026.

Tuition
Please don’t let financial concerns prevent you from applying.

We are deeply committed to making our learning and professional development programs accessible to all. Thanks to the generosity of our funding partners, any nonprofit professional accepted into this program can participate at no cost.

If you or your organization are able to contribute to the cost of participation, your support will help us extend this opportunity to even more local nonprofit leaders. Each seat is valued at $260.

Najat Elgeberi, Ph.D.

Dr. Najat Elgeberi is an Evaluation Specialist and Assistant Professor for Program Evaluation at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) Extension, with over 15 years of experience designing and conducting large-scale, multi-year evaluations for nonprofits and private sector organizations at state and international levels. She holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Evaluation, Measurement, and Research from Western Michigan University.

At UNR Extension, Dr. Elgeberi plays a central role in advancing the organization's evaluation and research capacity. She leads the design and implementation of evaluation plans and instruments for a wide range of Extension programs, provides technical assistance and guidance to project teams, and conducts both quantitative and qualitative data analysis and reporting. She is actively involved in building the evaluation capacity of Extension faculty and staff through training curriculum development and effectiveness assessment. Dr. Elgeberi also contributes to needs assessment design and implementation, supports proposal writing efforts, and regularly represents UNR Extension at national and regional conferences while contributing to university and community service.

A recognized leader in the evaluation profession, she serves as member of the Western Region Evaluation Network (WREN) and Associate Editor for the Journal of Human Sciences & Extension. Dr. Elgeberi brings strong expertise in mixed-methods research, data visualization, and statistical analysis to all aspects of her work.

Chris Copp, Ph.D.

Chris Copp, PhD., is an Evaluation Coordinator with University of Nevada, Reno - Extension, where he supports program evaluation, needs assessment, data collection, analysis, and reporting across Extension programs and community-based initiatives. His work focuses on helping organizations understand how programs are being implemented, what outcomes they are achieving, and how evaluation findings can be used for iterative program improvement.

Chris holds a PhD in Social Psychology and brings a background in research methods, applied statistics, survey design, behavioral science, and program evaluation. In his role at UNR Extension, he works with faculty, staff, and community partners to develop evaluation approaches that are practical, methodologically sound, and responsive to the needs of the people and programs being served.

Miklo Alcala, MPH

Miklo is an Evaluation Coordinator and serves as the statewide technical lead for the Program Evaluation and Reporting System (PEARS) across all University of Nevada, Reno Extension programs. He supports Extension’s programs, staff, and faculty by designing, implementing, and coordinating evaluation, research, and reporting activities that demonstrate program effectiveness and impact. He has expertise in strengthening needs assessments, improving evaluation tools, and enhancing the quality, consistency, and usability of county and statewide reports.

In his free time, he loves traveling, going out on new adventures, and trying new cuisines. He loves reading, playing video games and board games, watching shows and movies, and visiting coffee or tea shops around town with his four younger sisters and his friends!

Sheetal Survase, Ph.D.

Dr. Sheetal Survase is the Learning and Professional Development Manager at Nevada GrantLab, where she develops leadership and capacity-building opportunities for nonprofit staff at all levels. Her focus is to help organizations build strong, supportive teams by investing in the individuals who drive their missions.

She brings valuable experience from the higher education and nonprofit sectors, with a solid foundation in program design, evaluation, and stakeholder engagement. Sheetal has led and supported initiatives centered on health equity, restorative justice, and youth development and partnered with community organizations to create culturally responsive programs.

Sheetal holds a Ph.D. in Public Affairs from UNLV and a Master’s in Public Policy and Management from Monash University in Australia. Her academic background, especially her research on organizational culture, resilience, and retention, continues to shape her approach to fostering engaged and effective nonprofit teams.

Outside of work, Sheetal enjoys spending time outdoors with her spouse, and numerous rescue animals. Since relocating from Australia, she has found community in Las Vegas through volunteering with youth-focused nonprofits, animal rescues, and connecting with fellow scholars to exchange ideas and spark new research collaborations.

Evaluating What Matters

Training Dates & Times

Applications will open in July. Seating is limited.

About Nevada GrantLab