What Is eval.org and What Does the American Evaluation Association Offer?

eval.org is the website of the American Evaluation Association (AEA), a professional association devoted to the application and exploration of program evaluation, personnel evaluation, technology, and many other forms of evaluation. If you are an evaluator, a student entering the field, or an organization looking for evaluation expertise, the site serves as a hub for membership, training, professional standards, and finding evaluators.

What AEA Is and Who It Serves

AEA describes itself as working to provide an inclusive and diverse environment where evaluators can learn and connect regardless of experience in the field. Its stated scope covers multiple evaluation domains—program, personnel, and technology evaluation among them—so the association is relevant both to seasoned practitioners and to newcomers.

The site organizes its content around a few core areas: About (mission, governance, policies, awards), Community (member connections and collaboration), Education & Programs (training and professional development), and Events.

Membership and Community Channels

AEA brings together evaluation professionals from diverse backgrounds and specialties, and the site lists several ways to engage:

• Join/Renew – membership signup and renewal are handled directly from the site navigation.
• Find an Evaluator and Member Directory – tools for locating evaluation professionals.
• EvalTalk – a community discussion channel listed under AEA Connect.
• Topical Interest Groups (TIGs) – specialty communities you can join, with a TIG FAQ available.
• Local Affiliates and International Partnerships – regional and global connection points.
• Volunteer opportunities and Working Groups and Task Forces.

For students, the site also lists a Student Membership option.

Education, Training, and Standards

The Education & Programs section is where AEA houses its professional development resources. Listed offerings include:

AEA also publishes competency and standards material, including AEA Evaluator Competencies, a Cultural Competence Statement, and Guiding Principles—useful if you need a reference framework for evaluation practice.

Its Graduate Education Diversity Internship (GEDI) program has dedicated pages for prospective scholars and host sites, plus FAQs and application information. A Minority Serving Institution Fellowship and a Student Evaluation Case Competition (SECC) are also listed, with pages for teams, judges, and competition rules.

Events and Career Support

AEA states that it offers two in-person events each year, described as impactful events for evaluators at all levels. The site also maintains a Career Center, Research Requests, and Partnership Opportunities (including evaluation conference and digital advertising options).

Practical Notes Before You Use the Site

• Membership, event registration, and account access run through Join/Renew, My Account, and Login in the site navigation; you will need an account for member-only areas.
• The site lists a pricing page under its careers section (careers.eval.org/employer/pricing/) with a "Get Started" link, which suggests employer-side job posting has its own pricing terms—check that page directly for current rates, since the main site does not state them.
• Donation is presented as a tax-deductible way to support AEA, separate from membership.

If your goal is to hire an evaluator, start with Find an Evaluator; if you want to build skills, browse Education & Programs; if you want to connect with peers in a specialty, look at Topical Interest Groups.