Self Assessment and Evaluation of Outcomes

Why is it Important to Measure Outcomes?

Organizations that are serious about their theory of change engage in regular self-assessment and evaluation of outcomes. The results of measuring outcomes can be shared with stakeholders to illustrate the impact of an organization's programs and activities, and to demonstrate the difference the organization is making in its community and in peoples' lives. Seeing the difference an organization is making on paper, in video, through testimonials -- is powerful. To be successful a nonprofit must embrace a culture that supports outcomes thinking. This is not as daunting as it sounds. First, understand that a little navel-gazing, when implemented for the right reason, is far from a waste of time. As urged in the powerful but easy-to-read book Leap of Reason, managing to outcomes needs to be integral to a nonprofit in order for its mission and the nonprofit itself to be sustainable.  Here are some resources to help your organization along the path to effective self-assessment and evaluation of outcomes - and ultimately to more effective delivery of its programs, services, and mission.

The First Step is Knowing Your Organization

• There are lots of tools to help a nonprofit conduct self-assessments. One place to start is the Self Assessment Checklist from the Free Management Library that can be used to evaluate a nonprofit organization’s administrative strengths and weaknesses in such areas as governance, human resources, planning, financial policies and fundraising.
• The Nonprofit Organization Self-Assessment tools from the Nonprofit Association of Oregon, include a 360 degree self-assessment, a financial self-assessment tool, and a general self-assessment tool that includes questions addressing nonprofit accountability.
• Use this organizational self-assessment tool from the Innovation Network (free registration required) to measure a nonprofit’s organizational strengths and identify areas for improvement.
• The Marguerite Casey Foundation posts an Organizational Capacity Assessment Tool on its website (registration required).
• The Fieldstone Alliance resources on organizational assessment include tips on creating a culture of evaluation and six keys to successful organizational assessments.

Evaluation of Outcomes

• Five simple questions. And five answers, shared with your stakeholders. That's it. And how powerful this simple framework can be! Read about Charting Impact, a joint initiative of Independent Sector, BBB Wise Giving Alliance, and GuideStar USA.
• For insights into how a foundation may look at program evaluation as a tool, take a look at the Kellogg Foundation Evaluation Handbook.
• Perform Well is a tool for human service organizations to use to manage their programs' day-to-day performance.
• The Urban Institute's Outcomes Indicators Project provides nonprofits with helpful case studies and guidance on how to collect and use data from outcomes measurement relevant to various types of programs.
  • Key Steps in Outcomes Measurement
  • Using Outcome Information – Making Data Pay Off
  • Analyzing Outcome Information – Getting the Most From Data
  • Developing Community-Wide Outcome Indicators for Specific Services

How Should a Nonprofit Evaluate Programs?

• Read how funders can help nonprofits with the capacity to evaluate their own effectiveness. How Do We Build the Capacity of Nonprofits to Evaluate, Learn, and Improve?
• Learn the lingo: basic definitions for measurement of outcomes.
• Check out this video from The Center for What Works to learn how your nonprofit can get started with outcome measurement.
• Keep up with a blog dedicated to outcomes measurement: outcomestoolbox.com also provides resources for learning about measuring outcomes.
• Read the resources collected in the Basic Guide to Program Evaluation published by the Free Management Library.
• The National Center for Charitable Statistics is a source for data that can be used for benchmarking outcomes against other organizations with a similar mission focus.
• Learn about an evaluation process conducted through the lens of a “community of learners” in a briefing report from the TCC Group, Effective Nonprofit Evaluation: Through a “Community of Learners”.
• Learn how evaluation can work not only to show funders what’s working, but also to benefit your own internal ongoing learning needs as reported in a TCC Group briefing report, Learning As We Go: Making Evaluation Work for Everyone.
• State of Evaluation 2010: Evaluation practice and capacity in the nonprofit sector.
• Read about evaluating the impact of capacity building efforts.
• Read about the self-assessment process for a nonprofit board.

Also visit the section on Management and Outcomes in the Council of Nonprofits' online bookstore.