Unit 2: Foundation-Centered Measures
How should you measure the progress and success of your suite of family philanthropy services—your Social Value Proposition?
DISCUSS: Measures Benefiting the Community Foundation [members only]
This list contains sample measures for use and participation, quality, effectiveness, and for impact on donor relationships, brand, assets, and donor behavior. NCFP welcomes your additions and feedback at community@ncfp.org.
BORROW AND ADAPT: Generic Program Evaluation Matrix [members only]
This program evaluation matrix is based on the Results-Based Accountability model used by some funders and public agencies. Having a couple smart measures in each quadrant can provide a useful dashboard for management and board members.
READ: Measures Beyond Gifts and Assets
Need inspiration for other philanthropic metrics? Here are a few good resources. Please email community@ncfp.org if you have other recommendations to add to this list.
- Are You Positioned to Grow? (Kathryn Miree, 2014) – Miree’s white paper for the 2014 AdNet conference contains her recommendations for key fundraising metrics, planned giving metrics, revocable gift pipelines, prospect and professional advisor contacts, and more.
- Beyond Fundraising: What Does it Mean to Build a Culture of Philanthropy? (Cynthia Gibson, 2016) – What does it look like when everyone in an organization values fund development and donor relationships? In the appendix, Gibson synthesized lists of indicators for CEOs, development and donor service staff, other staff, board members, and organizational culture and infrastructure. She also lists what the culture would look like to donors and the community.
- Measuring Satisfaction and Loyalty: How Do Your Donors Feel? (Commission on the Donor Experience, 2017) – This guide discusses drivers and measures of customer experience, commitment, satisfaction, and loyalty.