FSG recently published an excellent report that profiles the state of nonprofit measurement.  It points to key trends in the sector such as the adoption of web-based data collection mechanisms and the burgeoning importance of operational performance monitoring in a sector that has typically equated “measurement” with longitudinal evaluations.

While the report makes several great observations and looks favorably upon recent developments, it does not provide concrete suggestions for the further development of nonprofit measurement systems.  Grantees will never gravitate towards these common platforms unless funders collaborate to mandate their usage by grantees. Additionally, as long as funders continue to invest in idiosyncratic grants which do not drive at a set of common outcomes indicators, these platforms will be of minimal use when it comes to benchmarking performance.

The tools for collection have certainly improved but leadership and coordination by each issue area will ultimately determine the effectiveness of nonprofit measurement.

FSG Report: http://www.fsg-impact.org/ideas/item/breakthroughs_in_measurement.html