Organizations take different approaches to evaluation and the use of metrics to maximize impact. The Robin Hood Foundation is a fascinating case studies of an organization which has great success utilizing metrics for predictive and evaluative purposes. The foundation strives to reduce poverty and health issues in NYC. In addition to financial support, Robin Hood provides support to help improve management, governance, operation, marketing and other essential elements of their work. So how do metrics play a role in who the Robin Hood Foundation decides to give funds to?
They focus their funds on programs which with improve participants future earning potential. While that seems broad, they have designed a evaluation process and measurement process where they can review an organizations impact and compare it to any other applicant organization.
The Robin Hood Foundation has developed a theory of change which focuses on future earning potential and future health care status of program participants. If they target funds to organizations which make the greatest impact on these two metrics, they will maximize their impact. When analyzing organizations, they assign a dollar value to an individual’s future increased earnings potential and a value for their increased health. Using these two numbers, they are able to compare very different organizations and programs and focus their effort to the most effective ones.
They also use these metrics to evaluate their impact. As a result, they believe that for every $1 in grant money, they “raise the collective living standard of poor New Yorkers by $15.” That is quite a beneficial investment. The Robin Hood Foundation has spent a great deal of time designing and improving their evaluation process but show the role that metrics can play in evaluation as you being to utilize them in connection to strategic plans and theories of change.
The Robin Hood foundation has produced lots of materials on their work. Below are links to a few interesting ones as well as a short video about their work:
Their use of Metrics: http://www.robinhood.org/metrics
In depth study: http://www.robinhood.org/media/169437/2009_metrics_paper.pdf
[vimeo https://vimeo.com/36916051]