Fist bumps to @msftcitizenship for hosting #KanterSEA! And look, I’m rocking my #Surface to live tweet. Woot! twitter.com/sldoolittle/st…
— Shanon Doolittle (@sldoolittle) February 11, 2013
I’m in Seattle for a couple days doing a round of “Measuring the Networked Nonprofit,” events to talk about measurement, data, and impact, generously sponsored by Microsoft. I started the day with a “Beth, Book, and Bagels” event hosted by Pyramid Communications, followed by a lunch talk at the Microsoft Campus hosted by Microsoft Global Citizenship Team. The day ended with a curated conversation on “Data, Transparency, and Impact” facilitated by the amazing Erica Mills and with Jane Meseck (Microsoft), Paul Shoemaker (Social Venture Partners) and Eric Stowe (Splash). They crowdsourced questions that we discussed and then we opened it up for audience q/a. Colleagues Zan McColloch-Lussier and Peter Drury managing the back channel, the Twitter was rich with almost 1,000 tweets and the hashtag #kantersea trended locally. I pulled together a curated collection of the best tweets on storify, but here are a few tweets that resonated. Defining Impact
A1: @paulshoesvp defining impact is both not hard & incredibly hard. #Kantersea — Zan McCollochLussier (@zanarama) February 11, 2013
“If you can’t define what you’re doing & how you’re making change how can you raise money?” @ericstowe#KanterSEA
— Zan McCollochLussier (@zanarama) February 11, 2013
Appreciate that @ericstowe is keeping it real about outcomes! Inputs don’t matter as much as long term, sustainable outcomes. #KanterSEA — Bevin Wong (@bevinwong) February 11, 2013
“Is measuring data about proving it or improving it?” @kanter launches with a perfect question. #KanterSEA
— Zan McCollochLussier (@zanarama) February 11, 2013
“Take away the (NonProfit) status if you can’t demonstrate public good!” ~@ericstowe #KBI #RallyingCry #KanterSEA [healthcare listen up] #fb — Mike Moore (@michaelbmoore) February 12, 2013
Advice for Nonprofits To Get Started with Measurement
#kantersea 1 Define success. 2 What is the metric to track. (Call it a KBI kicking butt indicator). 3 know what success/failure look like. — Beth Ann Locke (@FundraiserBeth) February 11, 2013
We need more social change people with a passion for spreadsheets. – @kanter #kantersea — chris eaton (@chr15_eat0n) February 11, 2013
“If you’re just starting with measurement, start with an easy win.” – @kanter Build up your measurement muscles, y’all! #kantersea — Mandi Moshay (@mandimoshay) February 11, 2013
#KanterSEA @paulshoesvp says “Just because you think it is difficult to get data – or can’t do it perfectly – STILL do it!” — Peter Drury (@seattledrury) February 11, 2013
@janemeseck says stories are gold but hard to collect. Can cost more. Have to collect hard data AND anecdotal evidence. #KanterSEA
— Lindz Marsh (@lindzmarsh) February 12, 2013
Sharpen your data collection to just 3 questions. Then ask ‘so what?’ 3 x to interpret it. #KanterSEA — Zan McCollochLussier (@zanarama) February 12, 2013
Transparency and Measurement
Transparency = failing out loud. Would love to see more NPOs doing this.#KanterSEA — Jen Price (@PhilanthropyInk) February 12, 2013
Funders have to lead in [transparency] and own up to failures and create air cover for ngos showing failure @paulshoesvp #KanterSEA — Sarah Stachowiak (@SarahStachowiak) February 12, 2013
Funders must lead on transparency issue by admitting their own failures, saying its ok, and sticking by grantees. @paulshoesvp #kantersea — Mandi Moshay (@mandimoshay) February 12, 2013
“The bigger risk of failure as a nonprofit is NOT talking about it” @ericstowe #KanterSEA — Abby Nafziger (@abbynaf) February 12, 2013
The Failure Bow
Audience shouting “I failed!” At #kantersea event. @kanter twitter.com/PreventionGeek… — Raye Shilen (@PreventionGeek) February 12, 2013
More on origin of failure bow #kanterseatedwordsblog.com/2012/10/10/the… #ain — Nancy White (@NancyWhite) February 12, 2013
Funding Measurement
@fundraiserbeth everyone wants you to measure…but no-one wants to fund it. #problem #KanterSEA — Emma Lewzey (@EmmaLewzey) February 12, 2013
You need to build measurement capabilities into your programming. It is a cost of doing business. – J. Meseck #KanterSEA — Shawn Michael (@shawnmicha) February 12, 2013
“Reporting requirements should be commiserate with the size of the grant.” Preach @janemeseck! #kantersea — Mandi Moshay (@mandimoshay) February 12, 2013
People to measure/interpret data are as important as your CFO – E. Stowe #KanterSEA — Shawn Michael (@shawnmicha) February 12, 2013
Update: Here’s the Video
Data, Transparency and Impact: A curated conversation with Beth Kanter, Jane Meseck, Paul Shoemaker and Eric Stowe from Tenacious Ventures on Vimeo.
