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Rather than getting caught up in the “It’s impossible to measure what we do” argument, try following a few simple steps:

1. Sit down with a group of staff or board members, and brainstorm a list of indicators that might help you evaluate your organization’s impact.
2. Study your list carefully, and delete any indicators that do not directly relate to your organization’s financial and operational health and the targeted social problem.
3. Develop a survey with questions that will help you obtain the data you need, and determine how often to administer the survey. For example, ICE surveys participants once upon entering its small-business program, and every year for five years after graduation. It can be helpful to test your survey with a small group first, to make sure that the questions make sense to participants and capture data that you can use.
4. Create a schedule and delegate tasks for collecting, analyzing, and reporting your data

A completed prospectus is an external document designed to aid in soliciting revenue of all types—corporate, foundation, government, gifts from individuals, and in-kind goods and services—in order to accelerate impact as well as achieve long-term financial sustainability. Here are some practical ways to put a full prospectus, or its introductory page, to use:

• In a one-on-one meeting, as a handout, possibly supported with a PowerPoint presentation
• In an introductory email, as a one-page summary of your organization's model, impact, and goals
• In a public forum or other event, as a one-page hand-out for participants to pick up
• When recruiting new talent, as an introduction to your organization
• In a marketing folder or kit, as one of your organization’s standard documents
• On your Web site, available for download