The Metrics Café

Jul 27, 2017

Funders need impact metrics. Grantees do, too. So who decides what gets measured?

Because funders’ and grantees’ measurement needs clash, they wind up with reporting systems that serve neither. This framework can help reconcile their needs, turning a tangle of metrics into genuine learning.

We explore four models:

  • Prix Fixe: All grantees report on same set of metrics.
  • A La Carte: Grantees choose from a menu of standard metrics.
  • Made-to-Order: Funder and grantee work together to come up with a set of metrics.
  • Bring your Own Lunch: Grantees come with their own metrics.

The framework presents pros, cons, implications and recommendations for each model. Drawing on cases from Root Capital, Development Innovation Ventures at USAID, Mercy Corps’ Social Venture Fund, and the Autodesk Foundation, this framework can help funders decide what model is right for them.

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