{"id":1863,"date":"2020-04-17T11:36:42","date_gmt":"2020-04-17T01:36:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-au\/blog\/?p=1863"},"modified":"2026-04-10T20:49:31","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T10:49:31","slug":"not-for-profit-outcome-metrics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-au\/blog\/not-for-profit-outcome-metrics\/","title":{"rendered":"Not-for-profit outcome metrics: Measuring impact in times of uncertainty"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMoney Matters<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\tNot-for-profit outcome metrics: Measuring impact in times of uncertainty\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\tBruce Minty<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Every industry has been impacted to some degree by the COVID-19 pandemic. For the not-for-profit sector, it\u2019s never been a more critical time to ensure we are still able to deliver on the promise of our missions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With such uncertainty, there are methods you can use to clearly demonstrate your not-for-profit\u2019s effectiveness\u2014to your funders, constituents, community, and charity evaluators. Outcome metrics<\/a> is the key to delivering this visibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amid increasing demand for transparency and accountability, today\u2019s not-for-profit organisations are seeking ways to both produce and demonstrate successful outcomes. In our digital, always-on world, not-for-profits require greater efficiency and managerial visibility so that they can respond rapidly while continuing to drive down cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to financial management, not-for-profit accounting presents unique challenges that cannot be adequately addressed with legacy systems, outdated spreadsheets or manual processes. Heightened expectations and scrutiny come from several sources\u2014including increasingly engaged funders looking for financial management techniques and principles employed by for-profit businesses. To meet this demand, not-for-profit organisations are embracing outcome metrics to measure and report their performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are outcome metrics?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Regardless of the not-for-profit\u2014whether it’s faith-based, philanthropic, health and human services, educational, membership organisations or other\u2014measuring and reporting outcomes has never been more critical to ensure business continuity, particularly during these uncertain times. Donors and grantors have higher expectations during a crisis such as the recent bushfires. Donations and grants come with stipulations for performance because the givers want to ensure their dollars are making the greatest possible impact on those most effected. Government funding, in particular, has strengthened compliance reporting and performance expectations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why outcome metrics matter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The importance of outcome metrics can be seen from a variety of perspectives and functions within the not-for-profit organisation. These include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Funding<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In a competitive environment, the ability to define, measure, monitor, and report the metrics that define success can encourage new and additional funding from donors, foundations, and other benefactors. For instance, demonstrating achievement of key milestones can unlock subsequent rounds of multi-year grants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accountability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Funders are increasingly tying their support to stringent accountability. They want to see where their money is going and the results that are achieved\u2013whether it\u2019s organisational growth and new locations or more not-for-profit partnerships and matching funds. Not-for-profit organisations must provide exceptional transparency into the organisation\u2019s outcome metrics, controls, and reporting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stewardship<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

From development and accounting to operations and programming, the ability to define, track, and report outcome measures\u2013showing where you are and where you want to go\u2014will help ensure good stewardship. This, in turn, will boost donor confidence and strengthen your credibility\u2014which supports your growth and ability to pursue your mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With intense competition for donor dollars\u2014and funders insisting on greater accountability and visibility\u2014not-for-profit organisations must clearly demonstrate fiscal responsibility as well as program results. Now more than ever the call for greater transparency and accountability is growing louder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Watch our virtual event: ‘Leading through the COVID-19 crisis’<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

<\/p>\n

On 26 May, we held our first Sage Advice Live<\/em> virtual event. <\/em>Watch our video to hear from our panel on how their businesses have navigated the challenges of COVID-19, what the future business landscape will look like, and tips on how you can survive and thrive.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

You’ll hear from:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n
  • Cindy Nicholson, CEO, Braintree<\/li>\n

    <\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

  • Mark Chapman, Tax Communications Director, H&R Block<\/li>\n

    <\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

  • Danielle Wood, Program Director, Grattan Institute<\/li>\n

    <\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

  • Kerry Agiasotis, MD & EVP APAC, Sage<\/li>\n

    <\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

  • Mark Jones, Chief Storyteller & CEO, Filtered Media (Host)<\/li>\n

    <\/ul>\n

    <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWatch Video<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    \n\t
    \n\t\t
    \n\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

    Subscribe to the Sage Advice Newsletter<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t

    Get a roundup of our best business advice in your inbox every month<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSubscribe<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Every industry has been impacted to some degree by the COVID-19 pandemic. For the not-for-profit sector, it\u2019s never been a more critical time to ensure we are still able to deliver on the promise of our missions. With such uncertainty, there are methods you can use to clearly demonstrate your not-for-profit\u2019s effectiveness\u2014to your funders, constituents, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":832,"featured_media":1774,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sage_video":false,"post_featured_image_hide":false,"sage_hide_published_date":false,"sage_hide_read_time":false,"sage_hide_share_buttons":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[78,73],"tags":[137,253,141,149],"business_type":[9],"context":[],"industry":[120],"persona":[101,102],"imagine_tag":[59,252,31,44],"coauthors":[278],"class_list":["post-1863","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-money","category-money-matters","tag-business-intelligence","tag-cfo-3-0","tag-cloud","tag-data-analysis","business_type-medium-sized-business","industry-non-profit"],"sage_meta":{"region":"en-au","author_name":"Bruce Minty","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/SeattleIndianHealthBoard_2019_Intacct_0768.jpg","imagine_tags":{"59":"Business intelligence","252":"CFO 3.0","31":"Non profit","44":"Support"}},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Sage Advice Australia","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-au\/blog","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-au\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1863","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-au\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-au\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-au\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/832"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-au\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1863"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-au\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1863\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4428,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-au\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1863\/revisions\/4428"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-au\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/1774"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-au\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1863"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-au\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1863"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-au\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1863"},{"taxonomy":"business_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-au\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/business_type?post=1863"},{"taxonomy":"context","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-au\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/context?post=1863"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-au\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=1863"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-au\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=1863"},{"taxonomy":"imagine_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-au\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/imagine_tag?post=1863"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-au\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=1863"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}