Part 2: Project GROWS’ Tracks Mission Fulfillment
They are tracking what matters most!
May 7, 2024
Maryfrances Porter
In my last blog, I introduced you all to Megan Marshall, Jeremy Starn, and Nicole Barrows at Project GROWS.
This is the second in a series of blogs which walks you through how they took what they learned in the ImpactStory™ Academy last fall (2023) and put the whole ImpactStory™ Strategy into place at Project GROWS.
Today – let’s take a look at how Project GROWS tracks their mission fulfillment.
Reminding You about the Strategic Impact Map™
As described in the last blog, Mission-driven Solutions allow you to (a) track the cost of impacts, and (b) know what programs need tweaking if you are not getting the impacts you hope for.
A Strategic Impact Map™ is a social sector business plan for mission fulfillment! Here is Project GROWS’ Strategic Impact Map.
Mission is Fulfilled Through Productivity and Immediate Impact
As I described in the last blog, each Mission-driven Solution has productivity and impact aligned with it.
Productivity – is the amount of work done. This includes the number of services delivered and the number of people served. In traditional logic models this is called “outputs.”
Productivity for Project GROWS’ first Mission-driven Solution, Equitable Access to healthy food:
# of sales with nutrition incentives
# of VFM outlets we are supporting in our region
# lbs of food sold and donated to low access communities
# of mobile market sites, visits, transactions
# of food servings distributed
# of, and hours of service, of community ambassadors
Immediate Impact – are accomplishments and/or the knowledge, skills, abilities, confidence, motivation people leave services with. They also include how relevant the services were and how satisfied people were with what they received. Most of these things are best measured with surveys. In traditional logic models this is referred to as “short-term outcomes.”
Immediate Impact for Project GROWS’ first Mission-driven Solution, Equitable Access to healthy food:
- People report consuming more fresh local food, including fruits & vegetables
- People have increased access and affordability of fresh, local food including fruits & vegetables
Take a look at how Project GROWS has lined up everything they need to track to show the impact they are making in the world!
What’s Next in this Blog Series
In the next blog, I’ll show you how to get the citations that allow you to tell the story of how the immediate impact you give the people you serve is expected to result in long-term and community-level change!
FYI – Strategic Impact Maps™ are the focus of Sessions 2, 3, and 4 in the ImpactStory™ Academy.
Thank you for all for all the goodness you’re putting into the world!
– Maryfrances
Your ImpactStory™ Coach
Learn more in the ImpactStory Academy!
Partnerships for Strategic Impact®
At Partnerships for Strategic Impact®, I have all the tools to build out the structures and strategies you need for tracking and using impact. I train social sector staff in how to use these tools, in how to analyze data, in how to make action steps for change, and how to tell powerful impact stories. My goal is your sustainability: I provide just the right amount of coaching and ongoing support to ensure success.
This is within reach. It’s not harder than managing your budget. Plus, you, your funders, and the people you serve deserve to know more about the value your organization delivers.
If you’re reading this, then you’re already part of my network. Schedule some time on my calendar. There’s no sales pitch and no obligation. Just curiosity and answering your questions. I am the seasoned program-evaluation, program-development, data-storytelling partner you need, right in your back pocket. I am here to bring order to the process of figuring out how to track and use your impact story.
– Maryfrances
Your ImpactStory™ Coach
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