The Sea Change in Nonprofit Human Services: A Critical Assessment of Outcomes Measurement

Abstract

Outcomes assessment or program evaluation has historically been an infrequent activity within nonprofit agencies. Direct-service agencies have routinely focused on measures of output as indicators of impact rather than on measures related to outcomes and effectiveness. Funders of program services (e.g., United Way, foundations, government agencies) exercise substantial influence over the use of evaluation by recipient programs and agencies. The essential task of identifying outcomes and implementing the processes associated with the outcome measurement enterprise, however, fall squarely on the nonprofits themselves. This paper discusses and critiques the outcome measurement approach from the perspective of a direct service agency and suggests how the available methods can be adopted most successfully.