Comments for The NonProfit Life http://thenonprofitlife.wordpress.com a community where people can advance their thoughts on improving the human condition Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:58:45 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Sachs! Easterly! Neither! by berkeleysblog http://thenonprofitlife.wordpress.com/2009/09/22/sachs-easterly-neither/#comment-25 berkeleysblog Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:58:45 +0000 http://thenonprofitlife.wordpress.com/?p=123#comment-25 8 months into my own sojourn from an Ivory Tower I've got to admit that I am totally with Easterly. The view from up close is not pretty and many of the arguments he makes against support corrupt regimes and how development agencies seem to be incapable of learning from their own mistakes (let alone the mistakes of others) seems painfully true. Coming from a private sector background, I know just how perfectly and painfully your customers tell you if you have got something right or wrong - almost on a daily basis. I see none of that feedback in this development world and as Easterly brilliantly illustrates without it the agencies that aim to do so much good seem doomed to repeat their own 'top down directed' failings 8 months into my own sojourn from an Ivory Tower I’ve got to admit that I am totally with Easterly. The view from up close is not pretty and many of the arguments he makes against support corrupt regimes and how development agencies seem to be incapable of learning from their own mistakes (let alone the mistakes of others) seems painfully true.

Coming from a private sector background, I know just how perfectly and painfully your customers tell you if you have got something right or wrong – almost on a daily basis. I see none of that feedback in this development world and as Easterly brilliantly illustrates without it the agencies that aim to do so much good seem doomed to repeat their own ‘top down directed’ failings

]]> Comment on Cultures of Scarcity by thenonprofitlife http://thenonprofitlife.wordpress.com/2008/11/03/cultures-of-scarcity/#comment-16 thenonprofitlife Tue, 04 Nov 2008 00:56:58 +0000 http://thenonprofitlife.wordpress.com/?p=31#comment-16 I agree with Matt in his basic argument that cultures of scarcity are not always conducive to the healthiest work environments and can often cause high turnover rates and make it difficult to draw talent. However, I remember with gusto creating a website for Groundwork Bridgeport (www.groundworkbpt.org) with no money by connecting with a web designer on idealist.org, getting free software on techsoup.org and putting in plenty of elbow grease. When resources are scarce, individuals can be extremely innovative and create an amazing return on investment. In complement to Matt's question, I would also ask, "Where have you seen true innovation and value creation in spite of resource scarcity?" My former gusto, that is common in youth, often fades when individuals have to 'grow up' in the sense that they need to provide for someone other than themselves. I will comment more on this in my next post I agree with Matt in his basic argument that cultures of scarcity are not always conducive to the healthiest work environments and can often cause high turnover rates and make it difficult to draw talent.

However, I remember with gusto creating a website for Groundwork Bridgeport (www.groundworkbpt.org) with no money by connecting with a web designer on idealist.org, getting free software on techsoup.org and putting in plenty of elbow grease.

When resources are scarce, individuals can be extremely innovative and create an amazing return on investment. In complement to Matt’s question, I would also ask, “Where have you seen true innovation and value creation in spite of resource scarcity?”

My former gusto, that is common in youth, often fades when individuals have to ‘grow up’ in the sense that they need to provide for someone other than themselves. I will comment more on this in my next post

]]> Comment on The Real Community Impact Discussion by Andrea Swaney http://thenonprofitlife.wordpress.com/2008/08/06/real-community-impact/#comment-6 Andrea Swaney Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:07:35 +0000 http://thenonprofitlife.wordpress.com/?p=9#comment-6 Thanks for the challenge, David. You're correct that it is everyone's responsibility to require outcomes assessments. I think foundations (and I would include individual donors and corporations in this group) wield the necessary resources to compel their funded organizations to change. Many nonprofits don't have the resources to establish metrics and data collection and therefore will be left out of the trend towards outcome measurement. Some foundation executives we've talked to have even said that their funded organizations are losing out on additional funding because outcomes assessments are not even on the organizations' radars. It's a subjective statement, yes, but I think the gut check is real. Those with the resources need to lead the pack and increase the awareness of the trend towards outcomes. I'll keep you posted on our study as the data is collected. Thanks for your interest! Thanks for the challenge, David. You’re correct that it is everyone’s responsibility to require outcomes assessments. I think foundations (and I would include individual donors and corporations in this group) wield the necessary resources to compel their funded organizations to change. Many nonprofits don’t have the resources to establish metrics and data collection and therefore will be left out of the trend towards outcome measurement. Some foundation executives we’ve talked to have even said that their funded organizations are losing out on additional funding because outcomes assessments are not even on the organizations’ radars. It’s a subjective statement, yes, but I think the gut check is real. Those with the resources need to lead the pack and increase the awareness of the trend towards outcomes.

I’ll keep you posted on our study as the data is collected. Thanks for your interest!

]]> Comment on The Real Community Impact Discussion by thenonprofitlife http://thenonprofitlife.wordpress.com/2008/08/06/real-community-impact/#comment-5 thenonprofitlife Thu, 07 Aug 2008 02:52:59 +0000 http://thenonprofitlife.wordpress.com/?p=9#comment-5 Andrea - Thanks for posting. I checked out your previous post and have responded. How is your study progressing? I would like to challenge your statement that it is up to foundations to require outcome assessments. I think it is everyone's responsibility: foundations, individual donors, corporations, nonprofit professionals (demand-side and supply-side entities) to hold the bar up high and take advantage of the good practices that (mainly) foundations have developed. Andrea –

Thanks for posting. I checked out your previous post and have responded. How is your study progressing?

I would like to challenge your statement that it is up to foundations to require outcome assessments. I think it is everyone’s responsibility: foundations, individual donors, corporations, nonprofit professionals (demand-side and supply-side entities) to hold the bar up high and take advantage of the good practices that (mainly) foundations have developed.

]]> Comment on The Real Community Impact Discussion by Andrea Swaney http://thenonprofitlife.wordpress.com/2008/08/06/real-community-impact/#comment-4 Andrea Swaney Wed, 06 Aug 2008 22:40:17 +0000 http://thenonprofitlife.wordpress.com/?p=9#comment-4 Thank you, David. I made a similar case for impact measurement on Tactical Philanthropy last month. (http://tacticalphilanthropy.com/2008/06/invest-in-the-best-to-make-an-impact#comment-3815) Just because outcomes measurement is difficult and hard to grasp doesn't mean it can't be done. Our firm is working with a client to tackle a mission statement roughly paraphrased into, "Leadership to Change the World." Well, what does that look like? But we assembled a team, thought through the ideas and developed indicators that would be relevant to the mission. We developed a 50-question survey designed to take no more than 10-15 minutes, which will be delivered electronically. The results of the survey questions link back directly with programs and services so they can be improved with the survey input. Now this isn't a panacea for all nonprofits out there, but it is proof that measuring the intangible can be done at a reasonable cost. I think it's really up to foundations to require outcomes assessments from their grantee organizations (or even fund the initiative to create the outcomes). They have the resources to make long-lasting impact in their focus areas. They're going to drive the process. Thank you, David. I made a similar case for impact measurement on Tactical Philanthropy last month. (http://tacticalphilanthropy.com/2008/06/invest-in-the-best-to-make-an-impact#comment-3815) Just because outcomes measurement is difficult and hard to grasp doesn’t mean it can’t be done. Our firm is working with a client to tackle a mission statement roughly paraphrased into, “Leadership to Change the World.” Well, what does that look like? But we assembled a team, thought through the ideas and developed indicators that would be relevant to the mission. We developed a 50-question survey designed to take no more than 10-15 minutes, which will be delivered electronically. The results of the survey questions link back directly with programs and services so they can be improved with the survey input. Now this isn’t a panacea for all nonprofits out there, but it is proof that measuring the intangible can be done at a reasonable cost.

I think it’s really up to foundations to require outcomes assessments from their grantee organizations (or even fund the initiative to create the outcomes). They have the resources to make long-lasting impact in their focus areas. They’re going to drive the process.

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