The new course on metrics at Harvard!

Not that Harvard Business School needs me to help with their PR – but per my earlier post they are one of the few players stepping up to the question of metric measurement for nonprofits.  Now they are willing to share their knowledge - for a price…

This spring you can take part in Performance Measurement for Effective Management of Nonprofit Organization (PMNO) for a mere $3,400 and learn how to measure how your nonprofit is performing.  Sound like a great deal?  Here’s what you’ll learn:

(PMNO) shows nonprofit leaders how to use organizational performance measurement to enhance the organization's ability to deliver on its mission. To address today's complex challenges, the program examines a range of effective approaches to help guide your organization in any economy.

Your Course of Study
Through classroom exercises, group discussions, and individual coursework, you will examine the rationale behind nonprofit performance management and conceptualize a new performance measurement and management system for your organization. 

Who should sign up?  The course, from May 31^st  – June 3^rd 2011, is designed for everyone from CEOs, presidents, executive directors of nonprofits to board members and others senior players in the nonprofit sector “who are committed to implementing effective performance measurement and management systems.”

If you go, will you tell me what you learn are the best measurement metrics?  I’d really like to know…

Newdea for the New Year!

Back from time off to tell you there’s an exciting new player influencing the measurement of nonprofits.  Check out Newdea.  Their philosophy to "high impact philanthropy" is about measuring results.  The explanation of their philosophy continues as follows:

Education is a critical step toward changing the future of philanthropy – which is why Newdea also serves as an informational resource for those wanting to learn about impact and be drivers of change.

That said, we coined the concepts of philanthropic impact, the donor-driven standard, financial responsibility, and the Newdea Community to help convey our vision and how best to achieve it.

I like their standardized reports, which clearly (i.e. graphically) illustrate the “goals” of a nonprofit organization and highlights where they met their goals and where they missed the mark.  It allows them to explain where/how they did not achieve their goals, also.

This is a real difference from what else is going on in the measurement world – hats off to the founders of Newdea for their vision, their perseverance and coming up with these standards and measurements, the clarity of their reporting, and their time commitment.  This was not a vision born overnight but rather over the past 10 years, based on their story. 

Check it out!