Questions About Our Services

1. What's the first step in working with you?
   Contact us with a phone call, email, or letter to the Institute, at 410-956-5144, info@ilinet.org, or 3168 Braverton Street, Suite 280, Edgewater, MD 21037. We will introduce you to the person on staff best suited to assess your needs.
   
   Feel free to take this step even if you have not yet fully fleshed out your idea. We can help you think through the critical questions that will shape your project. If your project is far enough along, we would be happy to discuss its goals and scope, as well as your budget and timeline.
   
   
2. What happens after I contact you?
   After your initial contact, your plans are presented to a Project Decision-Making Team. The team will discuss your project and consider within the context of the Institute's mission, our staff availability and expertise, and the project timeline.
   
   
3. Are there standard costs for your services?
   Rather than approaching a project through the lens of its budget, we prefer to approach it conceptually and work with you to develop a project that meets your needs. Our fees are largely based on time and travel involved, plus the cost of materials or outside services, if appropriate.
   
   
4. What if I am seeking grant funding for a future project with the Institute?
   Please contact us well before submitting the grant proposal. Our extensive experience working with government funding sources and private foundations can help as you write the grant application and identify other potential funders. As part of this process, we must also approve our role in your project.
   
   
5. Do you work with all sizes of institutions?
   Yes. Whether you represent a small history museum or a major science center, we can help you design a program or project that speaks to your specific goals.
   
   
6. Do you work with organizations of all disciplines?
   Yes. Our staff has great depth of experience working with art, history, science, and children's museums; environmental organizations, parks, professional associations, libraries, and other educational institutions. Our expertise extends to family learning, interactive exhibition development, youth development programs, and many other focuses of the lifelong learning community.
   
   
7. Who are your clients?
   Project highlights as well as a complete client list can be found here.
   
   
8. Our grant application calls for an outside program evaluator. Do you offer these services?
   Yes. Our staff includes experienced evaluators who can assess the effectiveness of your program, exhibit, web site, educational materials, and more. See the section of this site on Evaluation.
   
   
9. Can the Institute help us advocate for the use of evaluation within our institution?
   Yes. We are pleased to discuss the impact of evaluation with your administrators, board members, staff, and volunteers. Our workshops can guide your staff in integrating research and evaluation into your core operations.
   
   
10. Can the Institute assist us with strategic planning or project development?
    Yes. Our staff is highly experienced in facilitating strategic planning. We can also point to funding opportunities for your project, and assist you with grant applications. Working with Institute staff from the very beginning of your planning process can help you set goals and outline your steps toward implementation.
    
    
11. Can Institute staff speak at my meeting, conference, or workshop?
    Yes. Our staff speaks regularly at these types of events. Sharing the results of our research, evaluation, and planning collaborations, as a core part of our mission.
    
    
12. Do you have employment opportunities?
    Yes. You can apply as an intern or visiting scholar throughout the year. Opportunities for staff positions can be seen here.