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Outcome Measurement and Nonprofit Relational Work
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| Presenter(s):
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| Lehn Benjamin, George Mason University, lbenjami@gmu.edu
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| Abstract:
Outcome measurement has been one of the most prevalent responses to accountability concerns in the sector. Outcome measurement draws systematic attention to whether program participants are better off as a result of nonprofit work. The hope is that this attention to measurable outcomes will increase organizational responsiveness to those served, lead to greater transparency and improve effectiveness in addressing social problems. Yet despite the stated goal of outcome measurement, scholarly discussions and empirical data paint a mixed picture of outcome measurement’s potential impact on the nonprofit-beneficiary relationship. To better understand how and in what ways outcome measurement may strengthen and/or weaken this relationship, this paper presents the findings from a content analysis of the ten most commonly referred to outcome measurement training material targeted to nonprofits and then compares this to what we know about the work nonprofit staff do with those they serve.
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Enriching the Quality of Consultation and Research With Small Community-based Nonprofit Organizations: Ten Insights and Understandings From the Work of a University-based Consulting Center
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| Presenter(s):
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| Leah Neubauer, DePaul University, lneubaue@depaul.edu
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| Douglas Cellar, DePaul University, dcellar@depaul.edu
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| Gary Harper, DePaul University,
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| Abstract:
The Center for Community and Organization Development (CCOD) is a University-based Center that provides not-for-profit service organizations with an array of consultation and research services. The presenter will discuss ten insights/understandings from working with a diverse number of CBOs over the last decade: 1). Finding our Niche was Key, 2). The Effects of Passion are Paradoxical, 3). Preparation Builds the Foundation for Entering into a Partnership, 4). Nurturing a Partnership is a Balancing Act, 5). Funding Sources Influence the Consulting Relationship, 6). Boards of Directors are Omnipresent, 7). Volunteers are Sovereign, 8). Project Scope is Easy to Underestimate and it Expands, 9). A Comprehensive Framework Links Consulting, Advocacy, and Research, & 10). Reflection and Planning Streamline Future Work. Theory-driven, research-grounded, community-based & multidisciplinary approaches to ensuring quality in consultation and research will be addressed. This presentation highlights the co-authors recently published chapter in Consulting and Evaluation (Viola & McMahon 2009).
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