Why doesn the Resource Network contain an inventory of outcomes, indicators, or logic models for the types of programs United Ways typically fund?
Programs that appear from the outside to be similar–similar clients, similar missions, similar service delivery strategies–may in fact have very different outcomes. United Ways and others who have worked in outcome measurement have learned that, for outcome measurement to be successful, programs must identify outcomes and indicators for themselves. This assures that they are relevant to the program’s design and useful to program managers. In addition, programs report that the process of identifying their outcomes is in itself a valuable benefit of outcome measurement, providing greater clarity and focus for staff, volunteers, and clients. And, of course, we all are more committed to an effort if we have helped shape it and thus know its results will be useful to us. The purpose of the Resource Network and other United Way of America outcome measurement resources is to assist United Ways and agencies in making informed decisions about how to implement program outcome measurement. Many
