Indicators of Effectiveness: Understanding and Improving Foundation Performance (2002): The purpose of this study was to advance discussion within the field regarding foundation effectiveness and performance assessment. This research confirms the deeply felt need among foundation leaders for better measures of performance, reveals that comparing a foundation’s performance to that of its peers is both possible and illuminating, and suggests that foundations’ overall performance varies significantly along a number of dimensions of importance to foundation leaders. Foundation CEOs and boards can use the measures and data discussed in this report to place their foundation in context and to review strategies and activities.

This research suggests indicators that foundations can use to measure their performance in the following areas:

• Setting the agenda/strategy
• Managing operations
• Optimizing governance

The report includes a worksheet to help staff and board identify indicators of effectiveness for their own foundation.

 

Summary of Key Findings

A shared conceptual framework illustrates the levels of overall foundation performance assessment, the range of measures at each level, and the types of data – or indicators – that are potentially relevant.

• Comparative data in several key areas of foundation performance can yield significant insights

Gaps in data and measurement remain but can be addressed through a sustain effort involving many in the field.

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