Not-for-profits are on a mission to make the world a better place. But how can we measure their success? It’s not as straightforward as measuring profit margins, but there are still key indicators of achievement that executives should pay attention to. The following are the four ways of measuring success of not-for-profit organisations.
The measure of achievement of their mission and cause
The most obvious measure of success for a not-for-profit is how well they’ve achieved their mission and cause. This means looking beyond the financial bottom line and instead focusing on the impact the organisation has had on its beneficiaries. For example, if the mission is to improve education in underprivileged areas, the success of the not-for-profit could be measured by the number of students who have received better education as a result of their work.
Utilisation of resources to deliver products and services
Another measure of success for not-for-profits is how well they’ve utilised their resources to deliver their products and services. Not-for-profits are often underfunded and understaffed, which means they need to be creative and efficient with their resources. The success of a not-for-profit could be measured by how many people they’ve helped with the resources they’ve been given.
Addressing problems at their root cause
Not-for-profits are often created to address a specific problem or issue. However, simply putting a band-aid on a problem isn’t enough – not-for-profits need to address the root cause of the problem if they want to create lasting change. The success of a not-for-profit could be measured by how many problems they’ve addressed at their root cause, rather than just treating the symptoms.
Holistic solutions
Finally, not-for-profits should be measured on how well they’ve addressed the problems they set out to solve by offering holistic solutions. This means looking at the problem from all angles and coming up with solutions that address all of the underlying issues. For example, if the problem is homelessness, a not-for-profit could offer not only housing solutions but also mental health support, job training, and financial counselling.
In conclusion, measuring the success of a not-for-profit is not as straightforward as measuring profit margins. Instead, executives should focus on measuring the achievement of their mission and cause, how well they’ve utilised their resources to deliver products and services, how many problems they’ve addressed at their root cause, and how well they’ve offered holistic solutions. By paying attention to these key indicators, executives can ensure that the not-for-profits they support are making a real difference in the world.
