Monday, November 29, 2004

FINALLY, a funder who purchases outcomes

Tonight was my last class (sob!) for this fall at Kellogg We were talking about performance, metrics, and outcome measures. Our case/guest speakers were from the United Way of Metro Chicago, who are going through an amazing set of changes to all outcomes based funding, using logic models, community input, and all kinds of other great things. Janet Froetscher, the President and CEO told us how and why the changes are being made and then she said the magic words, word I have been waiting to hear from a funder for over 20 years:

"At United Way, we buy outcomes, we don't fund programs."

I nearly fainted. I need to have Janet come speak to about 10,000 other funders who don't get this.

Talk about hope on the near horizon. If United Way suceeds, and I expect that they will, it could change the landscape for funders in the U.S. for the next 50 years.

If you are in the metro Chicago area, get involved with these people. They are the wave of the future, right now!

A shoutout to Janet and her board and staff!


No comments: