If you're unsure where to begin with monitoring and evaluation (the foundation of measuring your impact), here's a simple exercise to kickstart the process:
· Find a comfortable spot with a cup of tea and a notebook, like a café for a change of environment, which I find, can be more conducive to creative problem-solving.
· Consider all the things you could potentially measure in the last year. Depending on your work's nature, this could include the number of meals served to the homeless, phone call inquiries, referrals to other services, volunteer hours, event attendance, website visitors, and more. The possibilities are endless.
· Choose at least 5 measurable metrics that you believe are both impressive and easy to collect. If you don't have records for these metrics, estimate based on an average week or month, being cautious to avoid over-inflating the numbers.
· For those feeling ambitious, list things that are more challenging to measure, such as long-term outcomes like increased confidence, communication skills, reduced loneliness, and improved well-being. Think about the tools or approaches you can use to measure these changes.
· When selecting the things to measure (often called 'indicators'), focus on those that will resonate with and influence your target audience the most. Not all data points are equally impactful, and fundraising involves pinpointing the most compelling ones.
· I’ve created a simple monitoring matrix (which you can download below) to help you plan what to measure, how, and when. With this information at your fingertips, talking about your charity's achievements becomes easier, as the impact data speaks for itself.
Download matrix now
Upcoming courses and events
The Fundraising Formula course, Tuesday 14th November at 11am
The next ‘Fundraising Formula’ course begins on Tuesday 14th November (11am). If you would like to take part, take advantage of my special offer which offers a 15% discount to my email subscribers so the price will be £252.00 instead of £297.00.
Use the code TAKE15 when purchasing the course, or email if you would like to be invoiced instead.
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Just as a reminder, the course is a 6 week general fundraising course with a focus on creating a fundraising strategy for your charity, whilst helping you develop skills across key fundraising methods from writing successful applications, to approaching corporates, raising money from your community and setting up and Individual giving scheme. 100% delegates so far would recommend to a friend and it has been given a 4.7* rating.
Combining both a digital self-led course and weekly group coaching, the course is aimed at making learning enjoyable and relaxed as well as enabling you to meet likeminded fellow fundraisers going through similar challenges. |