It's not easy to quantify the results of my organization's programs. How do I collect the data necessary to evaluate our success

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

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.
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.
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.
Create a schedule and delegate tasks for collecting, analyzing, and reporting your data