American Evaluation Association

08/17/2026

Lock in the best rates for Evaluation 2026. Early Bird pricing ends Monday, October 12!

This year's theme, Evaluation Across Boundaries, explores new ideas, diverse perspectives, and collaboration across fields, sectors, and geographies.

🗓️ November 16–20, 2026
📍 Charlotte, NC

Register: https://www.evaluationconference.org/Registration/Registration-2026

08/12/2026

Tomorrow: Join AEA's Conference Advisory Working Group for a Town Hall reflecting on Eval26 and looking ahead to Eval27. Hear updates on major changes, early evaluation feedback, and what's planned for summer and fall. Bring your questions, reactions, and ideas.

🗓️ Thursday, August 13 | 2 p.m. ET

Register now: https://smithbucklin.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_UG2kNOw-Tny1QAjJt_PXkQ #/

08/07/2026

What could major changes to federal grantmaking, statistics, and research policy mean for evaluators? In the latest edition of AEA’s Policy Watch, the Evaluation Policy Task Force examines several developments shaping the federal policy landscape, including:

➡️ Nearly 500,000 public comments on proposed changes to federal grant guidance
➡️ New policies affecting Census Bureau data and federal statistics
➡️ The White House’s newly released science strategy
➡️ Upcoming opportunities for evaluators to engage in the policymaking process

Stay informed on the policy developments that could affect evaluation practice, funding, data access, and research.

Read the full Policy Watch: https://www.eval.org/Publications/Newsletters/Newsletter-Archive/Article/policy-watch-august-2026

07/31/2026

Why do you work in evaluation? What's the most meaningful project you've been part of? Answer 2–3 prompts in a short video, which could inspire current and future evaluators.

Submit your video: https://smithbucklinvoices.gv-one.com/requests.html?gId=3897&rId=17780

07/30/2026

Last Fridays Listening Sessions are back. Join AEA staff this Friday, July 31, at 10 a.m. ET for an open forum to share concerns, raise ideas, ask questions, and hear AEA updates.

Register Now: https://smithbucklin.zoom.us/meeting/register/kLOHiicPTyi2bs4s2-OFcQ #/registration

07/22/2026

AJE Article: Rebecca Heilman, Vanessa Guerrera, and Sonia Baron explore how evaluators can navigate positionality in practice, examining how privileged and marginalized identities shape evaluation work and the communities they serve.
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Positionality statements challenge the notion of objectivity in evaluation, recognizing that evaluators are shaped by their identities and experiences. From the...

07/13/2026

Are you ready to network? 🤝
Evaluation 2026 brings you one-on-one time with leading evaluators, the chance to explore 150+ poster presenters, and the opportunity to connect with any of AEA’s 50+ Topical Interest Groups. Plus, we’ll be celebrating AEA’s 40th anniversary together! 🎉

Get the details: https://www.evaluationconference.org/

07/10/2026

New to evaluation? Start here.

Evaluation 101 is AEA’s first self-paced eLearning Course, using case studies and simulations to teach the step-by-step framework for program evaluation. Created with the assistance of Tom Chapel, retired Chief Evaluation Officer for the CDC, this course will teach you to build logic models, set the right evaluation focus, and turn findings into results that get used.

Get started now: https://www.pathlms.com/aea/courses/18299

07/08/2026

Robin Wagner and Josh Schnell share the community benefits of the RTD Evaluation TIG in the latest blog post on AEA365.
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RTD TIG Week: Get Involved Beyond the Annual Meeting: Why Research, Technology and Development Evaluation TIG Matters by Robin Wagner and Josh Schnell Leave a Comment / Research, Technology and Development Evaluation / By AEA365 Contributor, Curated by Elizabeth DiLuzio / June 20, 2026 This week is....

07/03/2026

The American Evaluation Association has officially signed onto a letter from the National Council of Nonprofits opposing proposed changes to the federal "Uniform Guidance" for grantmaking.

These proposed revisions threaten the independence, financial stability, and transparency of evaluation work—core values that are foundational to our profession. Credible, rigorous evaluation requires protection from partisan political influence, and these changes would create an environment where that independence is severely compromised.

We encourage all members to review the proposal and consider submitting individual comments to the public docket by Monday, July 13, 2026.

Your voice as a private citizen or on behalf of your organization carries significant weight in the rulemaking record. For guidance on how to submit effective, operational comments, please visit regulations.gov and search for docket OMB-2026-0034.