Historically, foundation-supported program evaluations focused on goal attainment. Goal-free evaluation (GFE) is a model in which the goals and objectives are screened from the evaluator. Several obstacles must be overcome in persuading foundations and programs to consider GFE as a viable option, because both tend to view goal attainment as intuitively and inextricably linked to evaluation. These beliefs are contrary to the fact that successful goal-free product evaluations have been done for more than 75 years. This article presents the case for GFE as a perspective that belongs in the foundation’s toolbox. The authors demonstrate GFE’s use, highlight aspects of its methodology, and detail its potential benefits.

Key Points:

• Goal-free evaluation (GFE), in program evaluation, is a model in which the official or stated program goals and objectives are withheld or screened from the evaluator.

• Several obstacles must be overcome in persuading foundations and programs to consider GFE as a viable option, because both tend to view goal attainment as intuitively and inextricably linked to evaluation.

• This article presents the case for GFE as a perspective that belongs in a foundation’s toolbox. In particular, this article demonstrates GFE’s actual use, highlights aspects of its methodology, and details its potential benefits.