This study investigates the evolution of evaluation approaches within the charitable sector, emphasising the proliferation of options throughout waves of evaluation diffusion. The authors draw on imprinting theory to describe the persistence of specific practices despite the emergence of alternatives. The research aims to examine the imprinted values and practices of earlier evaluation waves on the current practice of evaluation by documenting the current methodological practice in a large sample of evaluation reports. Read the full article by Elizabeth-Rose Ahearn and Cameron Parsell in Evaluation journal.