Harmonising Reporting was published in 2010 by the Scotland Funders’ Forum (SFF) with support from Evaluation Support Scotland (ESS) to make reporting to funders less burdensome and more useful for funders and funded organisations. It sets out tips, good practice guidance and templates for use by funders to improve reporting. There are also top tips for funded organisations on what makes a good report. The report contains helpful resources such as a reporting template and top tips for third sector organisations on what makes for a good report.
The report concluded that, when it comes to reporting:
- One size does not fit all funders
- Relationships matter
- Most funders want to know what you did, what difference you made, and what you learned
- Funders cannot always avoid specialised words
- Organisations that get support to build their skills on monitoring, evaluation and reporting often report more effectively than those who have had no support
- Support is about good communication
Download the full report, or read a summary in these links below:
Harmonising Reporting
Research on reporting found that funders don’t always get what they need from the reports they receive and that third sector organisations can find the reporting process burdensome. So in
Harmonising Reporting – summary
Research on reporting found that funders don’t always get what they need from the reports they receive and that third sector organisations can find the reporting process burdensome. So in
This 2017 report reflects on the story of Harmonising Reporting so far
Report: Funders and funded in harmony – Where are we now?
This 2017 report reflects on Harmonising Reporting; it outlines the original problem to be solved and how Harmonising Reporting came about. The report includes examples and case studies of improvements in reporting practice since 2010 and summarises where we are now. It also has suggestions on what could come next.
More about Harmonising Reporting
Harmonising Reporting Implementation – Case Study Report (May 2012)
This case study provides examples of how Harmonising Reporting has worked so far. The report uses four case studies to illustrate how funders have adopted good practice and the positive difference this has made.
Related resources
These resources are free for you to download. The Evaluation Declaration health tool and guidance reflects the learning from Harmonising Reporting. Please contact us if you are a funder and would like support to use this tool.
Evaluation Declaration
We worked with the SFF to produce The Evaluation Declaration. This has 5 statements that describe why monitoring, evaluation and reporting are important and what they should achieve. Funders are saying they believe evaluation is valuable, relevant, proportionate, supported and involves looking from the inside and outside at our work.
Evaluation Declaration Health Check Tool
Filling in the Evaluation Declaration Health Check tool will help you think about the way you undertake monitoring and evaluation in your role as a funder and your relationship with funded organisations.
Evaluation Declaration Health Check Tool – Guidance
The ‘Evaluation Declaration’ health check tool helps funders think about the way they undertake monitoring and evaluation and their relationships with funded organisations.
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