measuring and communicating impact

Measuring and Communicating Impact

Katrina Huffman, Youth, I.N.C. Lauren Elicks McCort, Youth, I.N.C.

Ryan Meinke, Closed Loop Advisors

Measuring and Communicating Impact Katrina Huffman Director of Programs Youth, I.N.C.

Ryan Meinke Associate Principal Closed Loop Advisors

AGENDA

›Introductions ›Katrina Huffman, Youth, I.N.C.

›Ryan Meinke, Closed Loop Advisors

› Measuring What Matters

› Building Your Case

›Organizational Impact of Measurement and Evaluation (M&E)

› Communicating Impact

FOR-PURPOSE INVESTING Youth, I.N.C. works with 55 nonprofit partners that are critical agents for social and economic change in New York City. Our partner network is:

GRASSROOTS On the ground and transformative within local communities

YOUTH-SERVING Focused on the critical population of 1.8MM New York City children, 1 of 3 whom are living in poverty

DIVERSIFIED Tackling complex, interwoven challenges facing NYC youth

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MEASURING WHAT MATTERS

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

Source: Markets for Good: Upgrading the Information Infrastructure for Social Change, 2012 www.marketsforgood.com

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What’s Your Case?

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Theory of Change and Logic Models are road maps to success

Incorporate the youth perspective into evaluation

Tie outcomes to research

Measurement and Evaluation

Leadership

Fundraising

HR/Finance

Board

•Leadership Impact: Leaders need to understand and convincingly articulate both their organization/program’s role in contributing to the development of youth, and the “proof points” (quantitative and qualitative) important to various stakeholders.

•Board Impact: Board members must represent the programs and their results, especially to help attract funds and friends for the organization

•Fundraising/Development Impact: M&E information provides the critical proof points for fundraising/development efforts to be effective.

•HR/Finance Impact: Relevant M&E information should drive how key resources (staff, volunteers and other core program inputs) are utilized to further improve program impact, to understand cost effectiveness, as well as to continue to motivate and attract staff and volunteers.

Impact of M&E

› Define your Audience ›Key storytelling points may change depending on your audience. Identify what is most important to communicate to whom.

›Educate Your Funders › Open up a dialogue and show what you’re doing and why you’re doing it

› State Your Case › Logic models and outcomes tied to research are the key to productive conversations

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Communicating Impact

Closed Loop Advisors performs data-guided sustainability consulting.

Our advisory stretches beyond cost savings and brand enhancement to helping our clients identify ways sustainability can inspire innovation and engagement. Services include:

What would you say if your stakeholders asked about your organization’s sustainability?

Measuring and Communicating Sustainability Performance

Measure what matters

Set specific targets

Be positive

Measure what matters

Set specific targets

We will improve by this much…

From this baseline…

By this date*

*If the targets are extremely ambitious, the date is optional

Be positive

The Upcycle: Beyond Sustainability--Designing for Abundance William McDonough, Michael Braungart

Thank you!

Katrina Huffman Director of Programs

Youth, I.N.C.

Ryan Meinke Associate Principal

Closed Loop Advisors

khuffman@youthinc-usa.org 212-401-4051

r.meinke@closedloopadvisors.com 917-319-1400

Lauren Elicks McCort Associate Director of Programs

Youth, I.N.C. lemccort@youthinc-usa.org

212-401-4059