The Evaluation Capacity of Czech Nonprofit Social Services Organizations

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20899/jpna.jeabf764

Keywords:

Evaluation capacity building; Evaluation; Czech Republic; Nonprofit management; Social services

Abstract

This study explores the capacity of Czech nonprofit social services organizations to have their services evaluated. These organizations are often required to evaluate their services by their national, regional governments, and/or the EU Social Investment Fund, however they are challenged with evaluation capacity building (ECB). This study organizes the ECB literature around six dimensions and draws on ECB studies, frameworks, and checklists. It examines the exploratory question of evaluation capacity through a national survey of, and semi-structured interviews with, directors of these organizations. Results demonstrate that the challenges for evaluation capacity are similar to previous ECB studies in other countries. However, in this study they are somewhat driven by directors’ social constructions of evaluation which are influenced by government guidelines and standards and their limited understanding of ECB and perception for their role in it. Conclusions are accompanied by recommended practice.

Author Biographies

  • Salvatore P. Alaimo, Grand Valley State University

    Salvatore P. Alaimo is Professor at Grand Valley State University, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA where he has taught courses in philanthropy and nonprofit administration for fifteen years. He received the Fulbright-Masaryk Scholarship in NGO Management and taught and conducted research in the Czech Republic 2022-2023. Some of his publications include book chapters in The Jossey-Bass Reader on Nonprofit and Public Leadership, Leadership in Nonprofit Organizations: A Reference Handbook, and the Handbook of Research on Nonprofit Economics and Management as well as journal articles in International Journal of Community Well Being, New Directions for Evaluation, and Journal of Nonprofit Education and Leadership. He has produced two documentaries, a feature length film What is Philanthropy? and a short film entitled Sew What?. Professor Alaimo earned his Ph.D. in Philanthropic Studies at Indiana University.

  • Jakub Pejcal, Masaryk University

    Jakub Pejcal serves as a lecturer at the Faculty of Economics and Administration at Masaryk University, in Brno, Czech Republic where he also plays an active role in the Centre for Nonprofit Sector Research. His teaching and research span a variety of topics, with a focus on the economics, accounting, and management of non-governmental nonprofit organizations. Currently, his research delves into key issues facing nonprofit sector, including financial health, transparency and accountability, evaluation, and capacity building.

  • Simona Smrčková, Charles University

    Simona Smrčková is a Phd student in the Department of Public and Social Policy, within the Faculty of Social Sciences, at Charles University, in Prague, Czech Republic. Her research interests are in evaluation and evaluation capacity building. 

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Published

2025-10-07

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 1 (2025)

Section

Research Articles

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