Clearly defining “evidence” is a key step in ensuring that federal grant programs are investing in what works. By determining what counts as evidence, federal agencies can evaluate and score proposals against a clear standard and set expectations for applicants.
Overview
Definitions of evidence should be included in:
Authorizations creating federal policies and programs (passed by the legislative branch and enacted by the executive branch);
Federal agency grant regulations; and
Federal grant program Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) issued by federal agencies.
These definitions help ensure that federal grant applicants, grant reviewers, researchers and others have a common understanding of what qualifies as an evidence-based intervention.
Options for Defining Evidence
Adopt an existing federal evidence definition. For example, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) evidence definition includes four levels of evidence, determined by a combination of study design and study results.
Define evidence by describing key features of an evidence-based program.
Develop a new definition of evidence.
Federal Standard of Excellence
RFA’s Federal Standard of Excellence recognizes federal agencies for their definition and prioritization of evidence in the grantmaking process. In 2022, all nine agencies that participated in the Federal Standard of Excellence defined and prioritized evidence in at least one of their federal grants and used grant programs to build evidence by requiring grantees to participate in evaluations.