Identify Program Outcomes in Minutes

Identify Program Outcomes in Minutes

April 4, 2006

By Vivian M. Linderman

Following is a summary by Vivian M. Linderman, MPA, of the session "Leadership & Management Issues: Outcome Measures Made Easy," which she presented Monday at the 43rd AFP International Conference on Fundraising in Atlanta.

Nonprofit organizations work in a very competitive environment when it comes to building a diverse revenue base. Whether you're seeking foundation funding, individual contributions or government grants, it's to your advantage to be able to state how your clients' lives have changed due to your program activity or intervention in their lives.

You often are asked to list program outcomes in most foundation guidelines or on grant applications. Today, even individual donors want to know more about how their gifts positively changed lives. It's in this story of your clients' lives that you discover your program outcomes.

The first stage in developing an evaluation process that's based on outcome measurement is to identify program outcomes. To do this, you first need to break down your program components. The program outcome model offered by the United Way provides a simple graphic to help you identify program components leading up to the intended outcomes.

INPUTS are the collection of resources that you bring to the program or activity. They might include funds, personnel, equipment and supplies, volunteers, time, facilities, etc. Without these resources, you would not have a program to offer.

Once you've identified your inputs or resources, and how you might work through any challenges that would keep you from bringing them all together, you can begin to plan program ACTIVITIES. Your program activities should, of course, relate to your organization's mission. An example of a program activity might be to educate teenagers about the dangers of binge drinking or provide job training to those seeking work.