It is prudent to check what the community that you serve thinks of the programs you offer frequently. I would recommend that you institute this process every year, and six months after a new program has been introduced, at the least. You’ll know exactly when this should happen as it is (or should be) stated in your Bylaws.

An evaluation is a list of questions to help you gauge the success of your program. It’s obvious that you want to mention your programs to have the community weigh-in on them. “Outcomes” evaluations are increasingly required by nonprofit funders as verification that the nonprofits are in fact providing practical help to their constituents. See the Basic Guide to Program Evaluation for more information.

Questions you might ask of your patrons include:
- Does the nonprofit organization provide needed services to the community?
- How did you find out about this program?
- What do you believe are the strengths of the program?
- What do you recommend in way of improvements to the program?

Goals-based evaluations, process-based evaluations, and outcomes-based evaluations are discussed in detail at the Free Management Library.

The Utica Public Library has put together a list of Internet resources for nonprofits seeking help with outcome measurement and program evaluation tools..

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