True Impact's framework through inputs, outputs, and outcomes in a 5 stage impact model.
Your program's impact model (also known as your logic model or theory of change) is a step-by-step illustration of how your program creates value. In addition to efficiently explaining and quantifying how the program's services contribute to social impact, the impact model helps distinguish between outputs, interim outcomes, and end outcomes (i.e., social impact), enabling both the donor and the nonprofit to focus on the proper metrics for evaluating success.
You may be familiar with a logic model, and while this is a common tool, it tends to be pretty process heavy. At True Impact, our impact models are a refined version of logic models, focused on the end outcomes
Our Approach
At True Impact, we break inputs, outputs, and outcomes into a five stage impact model, which can be seen below.
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Program Development Inputs |
The number of improvements in infrastructure, operating practices, systems, or staff used to deliver a program’s services. (optional) |
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Reach Outputs |
The number of people served by the program. |
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Learn Interim Outcomes |
The number of people who then gain the skills, knowledge, motivation, or access to resources that will enable them to achieve success. (optional) |
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Act Interim Outcomes |
The number of people who then take action or change behavior in order to achieve success. (optional) |
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Succeed (Social Impacts) Outcomes |
The number of people who improve their well-being by achieving the program's end goal. |
Below, we’ve mapped out what inputs, outputs, and outcomes are as it relates to the stages in our impact model.
What are inputs?
In the impact model, this is the Program Development stage
Inputs are the resources needed to deliver the program. These investments are typically the easiest to measure: money, equipment, volunteer time, and more. These metrics can help quantify your level of generosity or commitment but not the value they ultimately produce.
What are outputs?
In the impact model, this is the Reach stage
Outputs are the goods and services a program generates. Typical examples of outputs include students taught, meals served, resources donated, trash picked up, medical treatments delivered, and services provided.
But how valuable are the outputs to the people they’re delivered to? They may be extremely valuable, not valuable at all, or somewhere in between. It’s impossible to tell without assessing the result of the outputs.
What are outcomes?
In the impact model, interim outcomes is the Learn and Act stages while end outcomes are the Succeed stage
Outcomes define how a person’s life or well-being has changed as a result of a program. Common outcomes of philanthropic initiatives include improved health, higher income, improved school performance, a cleaner environment, and increased safety.
Outcomes tell us how our philanthropic donations improve society (i.e., created social value). And by measuring the outcomes of alternative programs, we can figure out which interventions work best, so we can guide our future donations and program management decisions to improve our impact and help even more people.
When working with nonprofits to determine their social impact, we often ask, “And then what?” You run classes to teach youth about eating nutritiously. And then what? Those youth learn about cooking and growing food. And then what? Those youth eat more fruits and vegetables at home after class. And then what? Their health is improved as a result of eating healthier.
That is your social impact. Outcomes are the end result of the various inputs and outputs of a program.
Examples of Inputs, Outputs, and Outcomes
Focusing on outcomes (and being able to differentiate them from inputs and outputs) will help ensure your donations are actually creating social value. Here are some typical examples.
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Cause area |
Inputs |
Outputs |
Outcomes |
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Disaster relief |
$35,000 donated in emergency COVID-19 relief funds |
10,000 PPE distributed |
150 people protect or improve their health |
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Education |
$500,000 given to endow a new scholarship program |
15 first-generation students receive scholarships |
12 students graduate from post-secondary school who otherwise wouldn’t have |
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Environment |
A company provides $75,000 in funding to train farmers in sustainable planting techniques |
50 smallholder farmers are trained in sustainable planting techniques 4,500 trees planted by smallholder farms |
750 metric tons of CO2 reduced from the atmosphere |
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Diversity, equity, and inclusion |
A company’s DEI staff provides 50 hours of training for teachers in equity and inclusion best practices |
Students participate in equity and inclusion workshops |
Students report feeling safer and experience fewer acts of violence in the community |
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Hunger and nutrition |
$15,000 donated in cash and food; 500 hours donated by volunteers |
3,000 meals served to children in need |
Increased food security reported across 90% of recipients |
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Policy or advocacy |
Two new training staff members are hired. |
50 community organizers are trained to knock on doors |
1,000 community members become a civic leader or advocate |