There are a number of NGOs that are working hard to make the world a better and more positive place. You might want to contribute towards the same, which is a great thought, but your donation, no matter how small, is your hard-earned money, and should go towards an organization that is actually doing what it claims, right? Is there a way to check this? How can you find out that the work they are doing is actually making a difference? It is a little tricky to measure this, but there are some ways, and in this blog, we will discuss the same.
Why is this important?
When you donate to an NGO, you want to know if the money you have donated is being used for the cause in question, right? You donate because you want to seal real results, people or communities in need being helped and not just feel good stories. From an NGO standpoint, too, this is important, because unless they are able to see what is working and what isn’t, so they can change their approach and better what they are doing right now. They can’t keep doing the same thing they are doing currently if it isn’t working. Because if they are running a program and it isn’t working, the beneficiaries of the same will be the ones who suffer. Also, transparency is key and donors need to know where their money is going and how the NGOs are using it.
How do you measure NGO effectiveness?
This part is where it gets a little complicated. Unlike a business, NGOs don’t have a simple profit number that they can look at. Success is often measured by things like better health, less poverty, or more children getting an education, basically things that are hard to put a number on. Moreover, many NGOs work in messy situations where a number of things are taking place at the same time. So, how do you figure out if their work is actually making a difference? Like, if we take a situation for example, where there is a drought. If an NGO is providing those affected with food and water, but the government is doing the same. How can you, then, measure the impact made by the NGO?
There is another important thing that you must keep in mind. Many of the goals these NGOs have, they have not been achieved overnight. It has taken them a long time to achieve them. Like, if they are focused on reducing homelessness in a city. In efforts to do this, an NGO might be providing people with temporary shelter and jobs, but this is not an overnight process, and it will take years to see a significant reduction in the population of those who are homeless. Then, how should one track if their programs are actually helping people move towards long-term stability early on, before there is a noticeable and significant difference or change?
Here are some ways to measure NGO effectiveness
While this is challenging to measure, it is not impossible to do so. Here are some things to look at if you want to know if NGOs are doing their job well:
What they do vs what happens: This is a big one. Did the NGO train a bunch of people, or did these people actually get better jobs because of it? Another example would be, did they distribute mosquito nets, or did the number of malaria cases actually reduce?
Numbers matter: One must look at numbers, like how many children were vaccinated, how many people have access to clean drinking water and so on. One can also look at the percentage of children attending school or the reduction in the rate of poverty.
Talking to people: If you just speak to people who the NGO is helping, it can give you a great deal of information. Surveys can be conducted, focus groups can be held, and interviews can be done to get this information.
Looking at specific cases: Focusing on a few projects and looking at them closely can help give you a better idea about what is actually going on. Case studies are used to analyze specific projects, look at the challenges faced, success stories and the lessons that were learned.
Comparing groups: Sometimes, groups of people who got the help and didn’t get the help can be compared. This is called a control group. For instance, if an NGO has a program where they are providing where they are providing after-school tutoring to at-risk teenagers in a certain neighborhood. They might divide the students into two groups. One group of kids receives the tutoring and one doesn’t. After a school year, they compare the academic performance, attendance and behavior of the two groups of kids. If the group of teens that received help from the NGO has shown slight improvements in these areas, it is significant proof to show that the program is working.
Planning it out: NGOs use tools to plan their programs and how they will know if their approach is working. Think of a logical framework as a project’s roadmap. It is a way to lay out everything in a clear and step-by-step way. For instance, if an NGO is helping a town get clean water, the roadmap shows what they have to do, like dig wells and put in filters, what the town’s people will get (working wells and clean filters), and what positive change will come from this (less waterborne diseases and healthy town’s people). They also use numbers to keep a tab on whether or not they are on the right track. A theory change is like telling a story of how they think their work will make a difference.
Figuring out the ‘why’: NGOs try and explain why they think their work will make a difference. They create a theory of change that will explain how their programs will lead to better results. For example, if an NGO is teaching the youth job skills, they might say, if we teach them skills, they will get jobs. If they get jobs, they will have money, and if they have money, they will be better off. They have to check each step to see if it is working, and the desired outcome is coming to fruition.
Putting a dollar value: This is called SROI or Social Return on Investment. It is like trying to figure out how much good an NGO is doing in terms of money. For instance, if an NGO is providing mental health counseling, they might try to estimate the reduction in hospital visits or lost workdays due to mental health issues, by putting a dollar value on it. It is a good way to show donors the economic impact. However, well-being is not just about money, that is why, other measures are needed as well.
Numbers aren’t everything
Numbers alone don’t tell the whole story. Hearing from those who the NGO is helping is just as important, as mentioned earlier. NGOs can gather stories of how their work has benefited the beneficiaries. However, they have to be careful not to invade their privacy when this information is being collected.
What if things are not working?
There are signs that one can look for if an NGO isn’t doing a good job. Here are a few:
- The NGO doesn’t have clear goals.
- They are wasting money on expenses that might be unnecessary.
- They are not open about the work they are doing.
- Despite seeing that their programs are not working, they are not changing their approach.
- The people they are helping are complaining about their programs.
- Despite working for a long time, their work has not shown any real results.
Getting better all the time
Checking how NGOs are doing is not about blaming anyone. This helps them better what they are doing and helping or touching as many lives as possible. When they are open about their results, it helps them stay on track. However, it is important to remember that every NGO is different. Every NGO must find the best way to measure their impact based on what they are trying to achieve and the environment they are working in. An approach that might work for one, may not work for another. It is all about finding what works for them.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, it is about knowing if the NGO you are supporting is making a positive difference, not just hoping for the same. Donors need to see a real and measurable difference alongside stories of those who the NGO is helping. If you are looking to support vetted NGOs that are working on the ground to make a positive difference and helping those in need, you can head to equalall today. By supporting organizations like these, you are not just donating. You are becoming part of a movement that gives importance to accountability, results that can be measured and a positive change.