Objective evaluation of nonprofit organizations (NPO's): An analytical hierarchy process approach.

摘要

The third sector in economies (non profit sector) is facing a perpetual challenge that appears in a rarity of funding, due to misplacement of available funds and lack of contributors' confidence in the current methods of evaluating non profit programs.; Governmental requirements of periodic reporting, contributors' involvement in Non Profit Organizations day-to-day activities, and increasing public awareness of this type of work, has increased the demand for more precise program evaluations and more inquiry into fund distribution.; A number of operations research methods were used to achieve the most accurate evaluation result in this research, using methods that can work under any circumstances, hence paving the way for better fund distribution. Those methods are: (1) Analytical Hierarchy Process method was used to evaluate a first level organizations' programs, in order to prioritize them for entrance into a second stage of evaluation. In addition, this method was used to prioritize the final list of programs for fund distribution. (2) Data Envelopment Analysis method was used to filter all similar programs in order to prevent redundancy of services. (3) Utility/Cost Value Analysis was used to determine the most efficient program (s) with respect to the pre-sets of limitations set by evaluation experts.; By introducing these new methods of evaluation, we set the stage for a more reliable, mathematically-oriented method for evaluating Non Profit Organization programs. This system addresses variety of societal needs and demands, furthermore, it solves one of the most important aspects in managing programs, fund distribution.