The Smart Way for Nonprofits to Measure Program Impact

ARTICLE | February 06, 2024

Nonprofits are under increasing pressure to measure the impact of their programs and services, which can be a difficult and time-consuming task if you lack appropriate tools.

Measuring success

Instead of measuring program impact in a quantitative way, many organizations rely on general data, like how many people the organization serves and the total number of programs it offers. Take, for example, a museum that relies largely on broad statistics and qualitative evidence of the integral role it plays in preserving and promoting cultural heritage.

While subjective evidence is helpful with some audiences, a quantitative understanding of how each program affects the community, visitor engagement, and financial sustainability is key to making informed decisions and demonstrating accountability to donors, members, and the community at large. Demonstrating the positive influence of programs through quantifiable data builds trust, strengthens relationships, and attracts financial support.

By establishing and tracking key performance indicators (KPIs), museums and other nonprofits can assess the success of exhibitions, educational programs, and outreach efforts. This data-driven approach allows executive directors to identify strengths, address weaknesses, and strategically allocate resources to initiatives that deliver the greatest impact.

Measuring results with Sage Intacct

Sage Intacct, a cloud-based financial management solution, stands out as an exceptional tool for museum nonprofits aiming to measure program impact. Along with offering reporting and dashboards for financial management and accountability, Sage Intacct offers extensive capabilities for outcome measurement.

Sage Intacct’s robust reporting and analytics capabilities enable executive directors to create customized reports that align with their specific KPIs, so they can track and measure the impact of programs in a way that is tailored to their unique goals and objectives.

The real-time data visibility offered by Sage Intacct allows executive directors to access up-to-the-minute information on program performance. The software also integrates seamlessly with other systems, so nonprofits can consolidate data from various sources. And, because it is cloud-based, Sage Intacct provides easy scalability to continue meeting a nonprofit’s needs over time.

Get professional support

Insero & Co. helps nonprofits implement the right tools to track, analyze, and communicate the tangible outcomes of their programs. Contact us to talk about the relationship-based services we provide and how we can help you and your teams improve financial management, speed decision-making, and focus on your mission.