This document provides guidance on developing an outcomes measurement plan. It discusses identifying mission-based outcomes and relevant performance measures to track progress. Key points:
1. It instructs to define outcomes by answering "Who" and "What" for the mission statement. Success criteria should also be outlined.
2. Performance measures should indicate "How much?", "How well?" and "Is anyone better off?". Direct measurement, surveys and partnerships are suggested for collecting better off data.
3. An outcomes measurement worksheet is proposed to map outcomes, performance measures, data sources, storage, responsibilities, audiences, collection frequency and reporting. Focusing on a few core mission-based outcomes and practical, relevant and actionable
Data Collection and Performance Measurement for Nonprofits
1. Session Objectives
Lisa Osterman
Community Solutions, Inc.
317-423-1770
losterman@communitysolutionsinc.net
Better Data Collection to
Support Planning and
Evaluation
1. Learn a simple approach to understanding
data and how it relates to your mission and
your operations
2. Identify what information is needed/useful in
your work
3. Develop a simple action plan for collecting
AND using that information
Measuring Outcomes
Not everything that
counts can be
counted;
not everything that
can be counted,
counts.
– source debatable
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2. The best job I ever had…
“Demonstrating Impact” Cycle
1. What are you trying to achieve?
MISSION
Yuck
We’re
going to
do that
We
can’t do
that
Three Critical Questions
We
already
do that
We
sorta do
that
2. What does success look like?
GOALS/OUTCOMES/RESULTS
3. How will you know if you’ve done it?
PERFORMANCE MEASURES/INDICATORS
Jot down your mission on p. 1 of the worksheet
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3. 1. What are you trying to achieve?
• To enable all young
• Who are you trying to
people, especially those
reach? CUSTOMERS
who need us most, to
• What do you want to
reach their full potential
achieve? OUTCOMES
as productive, caring,
responsible citizens.
1. What are you trying to achieve?
Define “Who”:
Define “What”:
– Young People
– Those who need us
most
– Geography?
Reach potential as:
– Caring
– Productive
– Responsible Citizen
To enable all young people, especially
those who need us most, to reach
their full potential as productive,
caring, responsible citizens.
Now jot down your “who” and “what”
2. What does success look like?
“What”:
“Who”:
– Young People
• Youth ages 6-18
– Those who need us most
• Economically disadvantaged
• Single parent/other guardian
household
• Military kids
– Geography
•
•
•
•
Entire country
Urban and Rural
Military bases
Native American reservations
2. What does success look like?
Population:
-All member youth
Success:
-Caring
-All member youth
-Productive
– Caring
• Kind to peers
• Positive relationships
with adults
– Productive
• School success/ HS
graduation
• Involved in Club activities
– Responsible
• Volunteer in Club
• Summer employment
• No juvenile delinquency
-All member youth
-Responsible
Description/definition of success:
•Kind to peers
•Positive relationships with adults
•School success/ HS graduation
•Involved in Club activities
•Volunteer in Club
•Summer employment
•No juvenile delinquency
Complete p. 2 of worksheet
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4. 3. How will you know if you’ve done it?
3.5 Types of Performance Measures
Performance
Measures!
3.5 types of
performance
measures:
How much did we do?
How well did we do it?
Is anyone better off?
Three Critical Questions
1. What are you trying to achieve?
Productive Citizens
Example Performance
Measurement Grid
How much did we do? How well did we do it?
3. How will you know if you’ve done it?
High School Graduation
% of youth participating in
at least 8 of 10 sessions
Is anyone better off?
2. What does success look like?
School Success
# youth served in
School Success Program
Is anyone better off?
# high school graduates
% high school graduates
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5. Tracking BETTER OFF
Performance Measures
School Success Performance Measures
Potential Data Source
• Three mechanisms for data collection
Example
Direct Measurement
Copies of report card
Survey
Annual OMTK Survey
Partnerships
1. Direct Measurement
2. Surveys
3. Partnerships
Data files from schools
Exercise:
Answering the Three Critical Questions
1. Choose an outcome/result that you teased
out from your mission statement (HINT:
Critical Question #2)
2. Identify 3 potential BETTER OFF performance
measures that would demonstrate that this
outcome or result has been achieved.
3. Clearly define each performance measure
Identifying Good
Outcomes and Indicators
Outcome /
Result
A change in
status,
condition, or
behavior
High School
Graduation
Indicator / Performance
Measure
Indicator / Performance
Measure Definition
# and % of a defined population
who do something measureable
that has a reasonable connection
to the desired outcome
Any clarification, caveats, and
additional meaning that helps you
to be specific and accurate in your
reporting
# and % of members who
graduate from high school
High school graduation does not
include completion of GED;
calculate as a percentage of all
seniors who enrolled in the Club as
a member on or after the first day
of 2013-2014 school year
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6. Exercise—Part Two
(AKA, The Hard Part)
• Use the Outcomes Measurement Worksheet
to draw up a plan!
Outcomes Measurement Worksheet
Outcome
Perf.
/ Result Measure
Source
(where
from?)
Storage
Owner
Audience
(where/
(who is
(who
how kept?) responsible?) cares?)
Collection
Reporting
(when/
(format,
how
timeframe)
often?)
A few tips…
• Focus on a few core
outcomes – MISSION
BASED
• Choose performance
measures that are:
• Have a plan—and use it
• Share the love!
• Tell your story
– Practical
– Relevant
– Actionable
– Controllable
Include How much? How
well? And Better off?
Measures
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