Values of the American Evaluation Association (AEA)

The American Evaluation Association is a professional association of evaluators devoted to the application and exploration of evaluation as a profession. We prioritize the advancement of evaluation best practices in multiple types of evaluation, including program evaluation, personnel evaluation, evaluation in education, evaluation in government, independent consulting, and more. AEA has over 5,000 members representing all 50 states in the United States as well as more than 80 foreign countries.

Evaluation involves assessing the strengths and weaknesses of programs, policies, personnel, products, and organizations to improve their effectiveness.

What Benefits Does AEA Offer?

AEA provides:

  • Education opportunities including online courses and year-round programming
  • Premiere events including our Annual Evaluation Conference and the more intimate annual Summer Evaluation Institute
  • Historic publications and daily evaluation blog, AEA365
  • Connection opportunities with a community of diverse national and international members
  • Virtual Town Halls to connect with the AEA leadership and community
  • Thought leadership opportunities through involvement and collaboration in the Topical Interest Groups
  • Discount on publications through SAGE Publications

Learn more about our benefits.

Who is an AEA Member?

AEA members are professional evaluators from multiple disciplines and backgrounds. When you are a member of the AEA community, you can expect to meet:

  • Students studying evaluation or a related field
  • Independent consultants
  • Data visualization experts
  • Evaluation educators
  • Evaluation managers and supervisors
  • Professionals with a focus on non-profits and foundations
  • Funders of evaluation
  • Professionals with a focus on personnel, program, technology, government evaluation, healthcare, social justice, education, and more represented in our 60+ Topical Interest Groups

Meet our members.

AEA’s Mission, Vision, & Values

Preamble

The American Evaluation Association seeks to act in ways that embody our mission, vision, and values in pursuit of our defined policies and goals.

MISSION: The American Evaluation Association’s mission is to improve evaluation practices and methods, increase evaluation use, promote evaluation as a profession, and support the contribution of evaluation to the generation of theory and knowledge about effective human action.

VISION: The American Evaluation Association’s vision is to foster an inclusive, diverse, and international community of practice positioned as a respected source of information for and about the field of evaluation.

VALUES: The American Evaluation Association values excellence in evaluation practice, utilization of evaluation findings, and inclusion and diversity in the evaluation community.

  1. We value high-quality, ethically defensible, culturally responsive evaluation practices that lead to effective and humane organizations and ultimately to the enhancement of the public good.
  2. We value high-quality, ethically defensible, culturally responsive evaluation practices that contribute to decision-making processes, program improvement, and policy formulation
  3. We value a global and international evaluation community and an understanding of evaluation practices.
  4. We value the continual development of evaluation professionals and the development of evaluators from under-represented groups.
  5. We value inclusiveness and diversity, welcoming members at any point in their career, from any context, and representing a range of thought and approaches.
  6. We value efficient, effective, responsive, transparent, and socially responsible association operations.

Year-Round Accomplishments

Each year, AEA is proud to support members and the greater community of evaluators through education and collaboration. With an eye on the future, our leadership, volunteers, and staff work to identify programs and resources that will advance the field of evaluation.

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