Outcomes Measurement Platform: case study
Beyond Numbers: Rethinking How Foundations Measure Impact
What happens when a major foundation realizes their impact measurement system isn't working? This was the situation facing the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) when they approached us about revolutionizing their evaluation approach.
The Challenge: One Size Doesn't Fit All
Imagine trying to measure the impact of a volunteer-run sports club in northern Ontario using the same tools as a large urban social service agency. That was OTF's challenge. Their grantees ranged from small community groups to complex multi-service organizations, each doing vital but very different work across the province.
The existing system of standardized surveys wasn't working. Surveys were too long, didn't capture population-level outcomes, and failed to gather the kind of feedback grantees needed to improve their programs.
Building a Better Way
Working with OTF, we developed a new approach that balanced flexibility with consistency.
The solution? A digital platform that combined user-friendly technology with human expertise.
Key Features That Made the Difference:
A secure bilingual portal that any organization could easily navigate
Customizable survey tools that let grantees choose from proven, strengths-based measures
Real-time dashboards that turned data into actionable insights
Expert evaluation coaching available within one business day
Qualitative measures that captured the human stories behind the numbers
The Human Touch Makes the Difference
Here's what surprised us: even minimal coaching support had a dramatic impact on how well organizations could plan and learn from their evaluations. Technology alone wasn't enough – organizations needed human guidance to make the most of these tools.
The Results Speak Themselves
Over four years, the platform successfully managed 300,000 survey responses. But the real success wasn't in the quantity of data – it was in its quality and usefulness. Organizations could finally collect information that actually helped them improve their programs, while OTF gained meaningful insights across their entire portfolio.
Key Lessons for Foundations:
User-centered design is crucial for adoption
Real-time data visualization encourages active use
Qualitative measures bring quantitative data to life
A little coaching goes a long way
Flexibility within bounds works better than rigid standardization
Want to Learn More?
Download our detailed case study to discover how this approach could work for your foundation.
