Measuring impact without a data team

Funders want to know that your work makes a difference. You don't need special software; you need to decide what to count and count it consistently.

Outputs and outcomes

• Outputs are what you did: 40 youth attended 20 sessions; 12 volunteers gave 150 hours.
• Outcomes are what changed for people: more students reading at grade level; fewer missed school days; a family moved into stable housing.

Start with three measures

1. How many people you served (count each person once, separately from visits).
2. How often they took part (sessions attended).
3. One outcome that fits your mission, measured with a simple before-and-after question, a teacher or caseworker report, or a short survey.

Good habits

• Decide the measure before the program starts, and write down how you measure it.
• Record a starting point (baseline) so you can show change.
• Collect only what you need. Avoid unnecessary personal information, especially about children and vulnerable people, and get consent for stories and photos.
• Report honestly. A small, well-documented result is more credible than a large claim you can't back up.

FundLuma's Impact & Programs tool stores counts only, not participant names.