To get started on your outcomes-focused strategy, you don’t have to go in blind, and you don’t need to feel like you’re a castaway off the grid. When you’re looking to launch a new outcomes-focused strategy, start with these three steps and sample scripts to ensure you’re heading in the right direction.

Vet your strategy with key grantee partners.  
Making a shift from a more traditional philanthropy model to a results-focused, outcomes-centered strategy could feel like a big change, not only for you, but for your network of grantee partners. It’s important that you involve your nonprofit partners early and often so they can provide insight and help shape the strategy from the beginning.

Measure progress along the way.
As you’re vetting your outcomes-centered strategy with key grantee partners, you will also need to make sure you have the tools to measure whether the execution of that strategy is successful. Instead of getting stranded in an outcomes measurement wilderness with nothing but a survival mentality, you can go into this new strategy confident that you have the systems and tools you need.

Emphasize training and transparency.
In the wilderness, you will likely fare better if you complete some training beforehand. The same is true for your outcomes-centered results-focused giving strategy. The better trained your staff and grantee partners are on the ins and outs of the strategy, how you’ve defined outcomes, how you will measure success, how to use the tools to track progress, etc., will help everyone to align around common goals with a common approach.

This article on outcomes-focused strategy was written by Michelle DiSabato at Peak Grantmaking.