Investing in movements or networks for social change is a strategy that some funders are using. But, how do you measure the results? Marino Morino, who wrote "Leap of Reason: Managing to Outcomes in an Era of Scarcity" pointed me to this recent report, "Transactions, Transformations, Translations: Metrics That Matter for Building, Scaling and Funding Social Movements" by Manual Paster, Jennifer Ito, and Rachel Rosner with the USC Program for Environmental and Regional Equity and funded by the … [Read more...]
Archives for January 2012
The Fives Stages of Measurement Acceptance
Infographics, if done well, can be a useful way to boil down key principles, ideas, or themes. They're gaining popularity everywhere, including the nonprofit sector. More and more nonprofits are starting to use them and it isn't difficult to find lots of examples and curate them. KD Paine, my co-author of the Measuring the Networked Nonprofit (due out in later in 2012), pointed me to this gem of a measurement checklist in an infographic format. I like the positive frame they put on … [Read more...]
Creating Learning Experiences That Connect, Inspire, and Engage
A few days ago I opened the door on a new learning journey. I am very excited about upcoming peer learning projects that I'm working on in 2012, including several for Packard grantees in India, Pakistan, and Africa as well as the e-Mediat project in the Middle East. It is a great opportunity to ponder the question: How to design and deliver learning experiences for nonprofits that connect, inspire, and engage? What are the best practices? Content Delivery Is Not Learning On New Year's … [Read more...]
Taking 18 Minutes Day Towards A Year-Long Focus
Over the holiday break, I read 18 Minutes: Find Your Focus, Master Distraction, and Get the Right Things Done by Peter Bregman who blogs at at the HBR. This book is a gem. Each chapter starts with a personal story that illustrates a concept related to managing unproductive distractions. What's refreshing and different about this book is that it isn't about trying to get everything done efficiently. Instead he guides you on how to focus on what matters and ignore the rest. He offers … [Read more...]
A New Year: A New Learning Journey Begins
I spent a very quiet holiday with family at Half Moon Bay and taking a New Year's hike on Ano Nuevo to see the elephant seals. Nature hikes and down time with family are nourishing and replenishing. As I watched the last sunset of 2011 fade over the Pacific Ocean, I wanted to formally say farewell to Zoetica, the company I co-founded with Geoff Livingston and Kami Huyse that we announced in January, 2010 one day after my birthday, and one day before the Haiti Earthquake. Geoff has … [Read more...]
