Great article about an important issue. The value of assessing outcome seems to have circulation in the human service world - but an associate of mine recently nudged me into thinking that all non-profits need to be thinking about outcome measures for all their activities. For example, what measurable outcomes might there be from your annual meeting and how might you these outcomes? What are the measurable outcomes you expect from your newsletter and how can you determine how well you are doing? And not just to present to grant-givers: her arguement is that when it comes time to get that individual renewal or annual donation, its invaluable to show you really accomplished something.

Hello. I am the ad hoc geek at Interplast (www.interplast.org) and I record stats with a program called Awstats. What I would like to do is be able to analyze these stats, and recognize trends. Do you know of any program that can automatically do this for me?

Also, we have blogs (www.interplast.blogs.com) that we run on Typepad. It monitors hits and which site directed people to us, but the info dies after about 20 hits, and there is no way to see what terms people are finding us with on the search engines without manually clicking on each link. Is there a plugin I can use so it spits the info into a spreadsheet program like Excel?

My recommendation would be servicepoint.

Hi! I'm Lori Reeves......Track Records Software is a web-based Client Management and Outcomes Tracking Database that was created by and for an assistive technology center. Some of its many capabilities include case note entry, time and attendance tracking, scheduling, reporting, and internal communication. It has been used by The STAR Center for over 6 years. Visit the website at www.trackrecordssoftware.com to view short tours about the main features of the software. Track Records Software will allow the direct service providers in your organization to spend more time with their clients because they'll be spending less time on the necessary documentation of services. Feel free to contact me with any questions about the software or for a free, online demonstration at info@trackrecordssoftware.com.

We are in the middle of the second software overhaul of our Homeless Management Information System, and have found that there is constant pressure to provide multiple functions intigrated into the system that are either redundant or useless.

Outcomes measurement has a well established, fairly consistent, methodology by now. A database that corresponds to the outcome measurement logic model can effectively track success.

If the interface is simple in its implimentation, and the outcomes are well designed, meaningful data can be utilized to improve services.

We are an organization in Dallas, TX that has several components - GED, employment training and employment services, micro-businesses in a low-income community.  We need to begin client management and outcomes tracking with a web-based tool since we have staff in multiple locations.  Most of the staff that would use the tool is proficient in computer/software usage.  Any recommendations?

We are a NC nonprofit and need the same type of program as Ifechner does... any suggestions?