Outcomes were covered in Phase 1. Here’s a recap and additional examples of outcomes.

Outcomes: The changes in individuals, systems, or institutions that you expect to result from your program, such as changes in knowledge, behavior, attitudes, etc.
Examples
  • Increased awareness of local outdoor spaces and natural assets
  • Increased understanding of how local ecosystems function
  • Increased engagement in conservation behaviors
See below for information on developing Outcome Metrics and revisit the Developing Outcomes worksheet from Phase 1 to be sure you have clear metrics that meaningfully reflect progress towards achievement of outcomes.
Outcome metrics

Outcome metrics are the specific data that you collect to assess the extent to which expected outcomes (e.g., changes in behaviors, attitudes, or knowledge) have been achieved.
Guiding questions
  • What are the concrete signs of progress and measures of change you will see? (Think: How will I know it when I see it?)
  • What are some milestones in the change process that you expect participants to reach along the journey toward program outcomes?
  • When do you expect to see change — within a few months, by the middle of your program, or at the end?
  • What outcomes and indicators are standard or commonly measured in the field?
  • What are the interests/needs/demands for outcomes information among internal program staff and leaders? What interests do your external stakeholders have? Focus on internal needs first.
Developing strong outcome metrics

Strong outcome metrics are SMART:
  • Specific: Have you explicitly identified the changes you expect to see, for whom, by when?
  • Measureable: Can the change be seen (i.e., observed behavior), heard (i.e., participant interview), or read (i.e., client records)?
  • Achievable: Is it reasonable that you can collect and analyze data on the metrics? Do you have the time, resources, and staff capacity to do so?
  • Relevant: Are the metrics directly related to the outcome?
  • Timely: Will your metrics help you understand progress in the first third to half of your program, as well as at the end of the program?
Examples

Environmental Stewardship

Metrics to measure the outcome of increased conservation behaviors could include:

  • Frequency of engaging in “reduce, reuse, recycle” behaviors
  • Pounds of compostables reclaimed and appropriately stored/used
Metrics to measure the outcome of increased conservation knowledge could include: :
  • Number of local outdoor spaces properly identified
  • Number of local outdoor spaces properly identified
  • Number of characteristics of local ecosystem identified