Road trip to a better world...

Read time: 3 min

👋🏾 Hey! I’m Sid and this is The Philanthropy Futurist, a weekly advice column preparing you for the future of the nonprofit sector. Each Friday, I tackle reader questions about measuring impact, driving growth, and managing your nonprofit.

This Week’s Newsletter at a glance:

• Road trip to a better world…

• Philanthropy News From This Week

• Sid’s Book Recommendation

Road trip to a better world…

Pardon my late share today. I normally publish this newsletter on Fridays, but I fell a bit behind this week. While it’s already past midnight here in New York (where I’m based), it’s technically still Friday in some parts of the world.

This week’s topic is going to be about impact...

Think of your organization as a car on a road trip to a better world. You’ve got a destination in mind (your mission), a route to follow (your strategy), and you’re checking the GPS, fuel gauge, and dashboard along the way to make sure you’re on track. But… one long road trip is not going to get you there. Instead, it’s going to take several road trips (aka milestones) to bring you closer and closer to the better world you & your teams are driving towards.

But here’s where things can get tricky…

In the Nonprofit world, we hear the word impact all the time. But let’s be real… “impact” is one of those buzzwords that kind of gets tossed around a lot in different spaces.

So let’s break it down using this same “road trip” metaphor…

Impact Data = Your Raw Fuel

This is the raw info— it’s the numbers, stories, survey results, attendance sheets, etc. Ultimately, your data inputs will vary depending on the cause/s you support. But fuel (aka data) will always be an essential part of your road trip in some way shape or form.

Impact Measurement = Your Dashboard

Once you’ve got fuel in the tank, the dashboard helps you monitor what’s happening: speed, mileage, oil, warning lights, etc. Measurement tracks key indicators, outputs, program performance, and this list goes on. Whether quantitative or qualitative, your dashboard should share relevant context to help you navigate your journey.

Impact Evaluation & Assessment = Your Trip Review

After each rest stop or major milestone, it’s good to continuously ask: Did we take the best route? Did our programs move us forward? This step combines both evaluation (how effective we were) and assessment (what changed as a result). It’s about understanding the journey’s value and continuing to optimize until your mission (or milestone) is complete.

Impact Reporting = Your Travel Blog

Now it’s time to share your story and tell us about your road trip. For some organizations, this may mean an annual impact report, and for others, your impact report may be more frequent. Either way, your travel blog (aka impact report) should pull together everything you’ve seen and learned… turning it into a meaningful story with data, visuals, and outcomes. This is what you show your funders, board, and community. It’s how you communicate value, transparency, and trust.

Bottom line: Not all “impact” terms are created equal— and understanding each part of the puzzle will help you and your team work with more purpose & intention.

In the coming months, I plan to dive deeper into the world of impact— and I’d love to learn more from those actively working in this area. If you have thoughts, experience, or know someone doing meaningful work around impact, data, or storytelling, let's connect. I’m all ears.

Until next week y’all! ✌🏾

Have questions you want answered? Submit questions using this form and I’ll work hard to get you the answers by way of this newsletter.

Philanthropy News From This Week

• Yes Theory YouTubers raise over $185,000 for London Taxi Driver

• Sesame Street heads to Netflix after Trump pulled funding

• American Nurses Foundation awards $1.5 million for nurse-led projects

• How $24,000 Grew to a $6 Million Nonprofit Supporting Craftswomen

Sid’s Book Recommendation

Each week, I recommend a book or film that has impacted my life in a positive way. My recommendation this week is:

Stories That Stick by Kindra Hall

This book serves as a guide to harnessing the transformative power of storytelling in business, demonstrating how well-crafted narratives can captivate potential donors, influence audiences, and drive organizational success. Learn more.

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