ABSTRACT
Appreciative inquiry (AI) is a plausible beginning for organizations that employ critical mentoring. AI is about identifying strengths or what works well with people, systems, and organizations. Developed by David Cooperrider in 1980, AI has been used as a base time and again to transform communities, schools, and organizations. AI changes a needs statement from one of disapproval and problem finding to one of appreciation and valuing. AI addresses the needs statement in their paradigm for organizational change. Shaping a narrative that stakeholders and funders can support is essential to a successful nonprofit organization. After mentoring and youth development organizations have established their initial approach and implemented ways to capture and analyze quantitative and qualitative data, they must undergo an evaluation process. This chapter highlights the importance of having a data collection and analysis strategy that utilizes various approaches and highlights as much nuanced information as possible utilizing both quantitative and qualitative processes.
