Jack's Journal - December 2021
Effective Altruism
Jack Horak
Director of Nonprofit Education & Consulting
TANGO
One of the most interesting developments I encountered during my career in the nonprofit sector, is that of metrics — the growing movement to develop standards by which the effectiveness of charitable spending and programs can be measured with some degree of objectivity. The reasoning goes that those charitable or nonprofit programs and organizations that can demonstrate with facts, figures and statistics that they are having a real-world impact will be better able to attract funding.
For example, see my article and short video at TANGO Alliance Insists Nonprofits be Accountable at TANGO Alliance Insists Nonprofits Be Accountable – InsideCharity.org where the topic is discussed in some detail.
I decided to write on this topic again after learning about a new variation on this theme that takes the form and title “Effective Altruism” and here is a link to a Web Page explaining the movement’s tenets and goals Introductory EA Program – Effective Altruism.
For an even deeper dive into the topic, I recommend a May 21, 2021 Article in Harvard Political Review entitled Effective Altruism: An Interview with Steven Pinker. Effective Altruism: An Interview with Steven Pinker – Harvard Political Review (harvardpolitics.com). Pinker is one of our cultures’ leading intellectuals and a Professor of Psychology at Harvard University, and his thinking is provocative and deserves serious consideration.
Measuring What Matters: Why Nonprofits Are Rethinking Data
Ask any nonprofit leader what keeps them up at night, and you’ll likely hear a version of the same story: “We’re doing so much but how do we show what’s actually changing?” For years, the sector has relied on numbers that demonstrate activity like how many services delivered, how many people reached, or how many hours logged.
The New Britain Museum of American Art
The New Britain Museum of American Art is the first museum dedicated to acquiring American Art in the country, the New Britain Museum of American Art inspires, educates, and connects people through the power of American art. Through our outstanding collection, dynamic exhibitions, and engaging programs, we create meaningful experiences that foster curiosity, creativity, and lifelong learning.
CONTACT
TANGO
Jack Horak
Director of Nonprofit Education & Consulting
TANGO – The Alliance for Nonprofit Growth & Opportunity
135 South Road
Farmington, CT 06032
877-708-2646
tangoalliance.org