Evaluation of the Victim Services Organizational Capacity Building Initiatives, Final Report

• NCJ Number: 227148
• Author(s): Brenda K. Uekert; John Matthias; Susan Keilitz; Sarah Gibson
• Date Published: December 2008
• Length: 66 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2005-JG-06-17597
• Sponsoring Agency: Pennsylvania Cmssn on Crime and Delinquency
• Corporate Author: National Ctr for State Courts
• Sale Source: Pennsylvania Cmssn on Crime and Delinquency
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Downloaded June 3, 2009

Annotation

This evaluation of Pennsylvania's Victim Services Organizational Capacity Building Initiatives examined grant activities, satisfaction with project implementation, and outcomes.

Abstract

Over half of the grantees who responded to an online survey reported using grant funds to improve organizational capacity in the areas of strategic planning (e.g., developing a mission statement, drafting strategic plans, establishing agency goals), and governance/external relations (e.g., structuring the board of directors, creating partnerships with local agencies, promoting services). The area least likely to be addressed with grant funds was financial and business management. Grantees were most likely to report they had "fully achieved" specific activities related to governance and financial/business management. They were least likely to report full achievement in areas related to technology and service delivery. The majority of grantees reported that their organizational capacity had become "much better" over the past 5 years. The victim service organizations indicated that their greatest needs were in the areas of marketing and outreach, collaboration, technology, financial planning, and volunteer recruitment/management. The evaluation recommends continued funding and support for the Victim Services Organizational Capacity Building Initiatives. Other recommendations include the development of an online resource for victim service organizations, the creation of a mentorship program that partners relatively new or inexperienced organizations with organizations that have demonstrated high levels of capacity, and inclusion of a requirement that grantees develop a technology plan as part of any grant-funded technology projects. The evaluation classified agency missions and capacity-building activities based on an analysis of agency documents. The evaluation used site interviews and observations as well as an online survey of grant recipients in order to examine how capacity building projects were implemented, what challenges were encountered, and how they were overcome. 5 exhibits and attached interview protocol, site profiles, technology profiles, and the Organizational Capacity Building Survey