The Collaborative Evaluation Fellows Project (CEFP) of the American Cancer
Society builds organizational capacity for evaluation by partnering with sc
hools of public health to conduct local evaluation studies. This model was
envisioned in response to the American Cancer Society's growing demand for
program evaluation and the challenges of institutionalizing evaluation nati
onwide and at all levels of the organization. The CEFP also formalizes part
nerships between the American Cancer Society and universities and provides
practical opportunities for public health graduate students and faculty. Wo
rking with an American Cancer Society evaluation facilitator and and adviso
ry group, faculty and graduate students use a 15-step process to conduct ev
aluation studies at the local level. Students also can use these data fort
their master's theses. The 15-step is based on the utilization-focused eval
uation approach and is designed to foster the use of evaluation findings by
program stakeholders. The CEFP model has been implemented in American Canc
er Society offices nationwide and has been replicated with another nonprofi
t health organization.