An emotionally gripping story like the one in this article plus compelling, quantified evidence will increase client participation and commitment, donations, and referrals as well as staff commitment, board engagement, and long-term sustainability.
Do you have the evidence to support your favorite agency’s claims of success?
One parochial school is proud of its discipleship development. When asked they will tell you about a young man who stepped between a gun and a friend who was being threatened. The friend lived because the young man gave his life. It is a great example of being a good disciple and taking our love for others to the highest level.
After applauding that example of discipleship, ask for a second example. Ask how many examples there are from each graduating class. Ask how they measure the increase in discipleship of each student at graduation. Ask what the curriculum is that creates the discipleship.
Without evidence how do we know whether the discipleship was develop by the school, a pastor, a parent, a mentor, a neighbor, being inspired by the Bible, or all of those and more? While we hope the school played a part, it is impossible to know. Remember there are stories of soldiers making the same sacrifice who never attended that school or any Christian or parochial school.
At a practical level without evidence, should anyone believe that success is happening because of the programming? The anecdotal evidence may indicate that success is happening. Is the relationship coincidental? As an example, a youth center might promote abstinence. It might be proud of a young person who gives up a promiscuous life style. If the center used a targeted program to attract at risk youth, had a strong life style curriculum, and tracked pre-marriage pregnancy rate of its alumni it would be easy to compare their statistics with a similar non-alumni population.
With demonstrated success, it is easy to gather passionate donors, volunteers, and referral sources around the mission. It is also easier to engage and motivate clients. Everyone has evidence that participation will produce results.
The follow-on question is, “Do evidence-based programs enjoy a sufficient increase in support to justify the cost of gathering, analyzing, and reporting success?”
Look around your community. Who are the agencies that are strong despite the economic downturn? Ask them for evidence of their programmatic success. How compelling is their evidence? Is it more or less compelling than the evidence from your favorite nonprofit? How does their change in donor support over the past year (expressed as a percentage) compare with your agency’s donor support? If your agency enjoyed a comparable level of support, would it justify the cost of being more evidence-based? In short, prove it to yourself that evidence-based claims receive more support and are more sustainable.
It is possible to measure anything. How do you envision quantifying the success of your favorite program?
If after your agency becomes more evidence-based donations fail to increase, ask one more question. Are we measuring what matters to the community, donors, and referral sources as well as the mission and the clients? Align the stars and the sky becomes brighter.
An emotionally gripping story like the one at the start of this article plus compelling, quantified evidence will increase client participation and commitment, donations, and referrals as well as staff commitment, board engagement, and long-term sustainability.
As always, if you want help contact us.
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