High impact resources.
$0 price tag.
Welcome to the free stuff drawer. This is where Uncommon Evaluation stashes its no-strings-attached tools, templates, and printables designed to make your evaluation life easier.
Whether you're new to evaluation, avoiding it entirely, or just need a little structure to get started, these resources are here to help you take the next step with clarity and confidence. Use what works, skip what doesn’t, and come back anytime for a top-up.
Glossary of Evaluation Terms
Evaluation jargon has a way of creeping into meetings, grant reports, and funder conversations—often leaving program staff wondering if they missed the secret decoder ring. That’s where this glossary comes in.
We’ve taken the most common (and confusing) evaluation terms and translated them into plain language, with real-world examples you’ll actually recognize. No academic fluff, no head-scratching definitions—just clear explanations you can use the next time someone casually drops “indicator” or “theory of change” into a conversation.
Whether you’re writing a grant, building a logic model, or just trying to sound like you know what’s going on in a planning meeting, this glossary has your back.
Simple Evaluation Plan
The Simple Evaluation Plan is a guided template designed to help you clarify what you're trying to achieve, how you'll know it's working, and what data you'll need to tell that story—without turning it into a weeks-long project. It's perfect for program leads, managers, or accidental evaluators who need a clear, lightweight plan they can actually use (and explain to someone else, if needed).
Whether you're gearing up for a new initiative, reporting to a funder, or simply trying to show that your team’s work is making a difference, this plan gives you a solid foundation to build from. No jargon. No fluff. Just thoughtful prompts and space to put your thinking down in one place.
Download it, fill it out, and get back to doing the work that matters—this time with a plan in your back pocket.
Evaluation Mood Tracker
Let’s be real: evaluation isn’t just a technical process—it’s an emotional one too. Whether you’re feeling “quietly confident” or “one more acronym away from losing it,” the Evaluation Mood Tracker is here to help you name it, notice it, and maybe even laugh about it.
This printable tool offers a creative way to reflect on how you’re feeling about your evaluation work at any given moment. It’s designed for anyone who’s ever muttered “I don’t know what I’m doing” into their coffee before a reporting deadline—or who’s had a surprising burst of clarity while sketching out a logic model.
Use it as a monthly check-in, a team conversation starter, or a low-stakes way to build awareness around the emotional side of doing evaluation in resource-stretched environments. Stick it on your wall, tuck it in your notebook, or laminate it and make it your new desk buddy.
After all, your mindset matters—and tracking it might just help you move from “meh” to “making progress.”
