Outcome Evaluation Initiative
Bill Diver, Executive Director of London & District Distress Centre speaks at the Outcome Evaluation Initiative launch, September 2007
United Way is a leader in developing leaders and skills in the non-profit sector. We do this to strengthen the sector, and our community, as a whole. The Outcome Evaluation Initiative is an example of United Way's efforts in this regard.
Led by United Way, the Outcome Evaluation Initiative is a partnership of United Way, Ontario Trillium Foundation, City of London and London Community Foundation. The goal of the initiative is to help non-profit organizations within London and Middlesex County – including United Way of London & Middlesex itself - to better identify and evaluate their own programs’ outcomes or results, measure the impact these programs have on people and the community and effectively communicate the results and impact to funders and the community at large.
The ongoing development of the Outcome Evaluation Initiative is guided by a number of community organizations who provide input to United Way as part of a Community Reference Group.
The initial phase of the Outcome Evaluation Initiative included a series of training and consultation sessions conducted by experts at the Centre for Community Based Research. An evolution from simply reporting the number of users of a service, the Outcome Evaluation Initiative has helped organizations to better answer the question, “What difference is our service making?” The initiative strives to provide agencies with more understanding, knowledge and sophisticated tools to monitor their results compared to their goals.
To read the Centre for Community Based Research’s final report on the first phase of the Outcome Evaluation Initiative please click here.
What is outcome evaluation?
- Process of demonstrating the impact of our work
- Answers the question: “What is different because of the program/service?”
- Allows us to show the benefits or changes experienced by individuals, families and communities during or after programs and services
- Takes into consideration the broader issues that influence the work of service providers and affect the lives of individuals and communities
- Helps agencies and United Way show the return on investment
What are the benefits?
- Improves services for clients and other stakeholders
- Provides clarity about the purpose of the work and the intended impact
- Encourages a focus on clients and/ or community needs and priorities
- Helps to communicate with stakeholders the value, accountability and effectiveness of the work undertaken
- Helps leverage additional funds from other sources
What do we hope to achieve?
While the initial 3 year phase of the initiative ended on March 31, 2010, United Way will continue its commitment to building agency capacity in this area. We expect participating agencies will continue to develop their capacity to clearly articulate intended outcomes, measure outcomes, communicate strategically about the impact of their programs and services and implement practical and relevant outcome measurement strategies.
We also hope United Way will continue to develop increased capacity to document its own outcomes, demonstrate the collective impact of our investments, to ensure accountability for United Way investments in the community and to share information about outcomes with donors. In 2010, based on the improved capacity of agencies reporting outcomes, United Way incorporated outcome evaluation practice and findings as a very significant criterion in its funding decisions.
The emphasis on demonstrating impact will only become stronger - not only to ensure the proper stewardship of financial gifts, but, more importantly, to move towards establishing shared community outcomes to address shared community issues.
For more information, contact Kelly McManus at 519-438-1723 ext. 223.