How the work actually gets done.

This is a short research survey with nonprofit leaders, evaluators, and foundation staff about how evaluation, measurement, and impact reporting actually get done inside organizations — where the time goes, what gets deprioritized, what people most want to hand off.

I'm not selling anything, and this is not a sales funnel. I'm trying to understand where the real pain lives in this work so that tools and support built for the sector address real problems rather than assumed ones.

It takes 8–10 minutes. Your answers are anonymous unless you choose to leave an email at the end. Findings will be shared back openly, not paywalled.

Run by Sadie Paschke of Anthralytic, a strategy and evaluation studio for mission-driven organizations. Questions? Get in touch.

A little about you

Quick clicks — the substance comes next.

How did you hear about this survey? *

Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Minnesota Council on Foundations Propel Nonprofits A food systems network LinkedIn Substack or newsletter Direct email from the researcher Other

What type of organization do you work for? *

Direct service nonprofit Advocacy or policy nonprofit Foundation or grantmaker Intermediary or capacity builder Network or association Other

What is your role? *

Approximate annual operating budget *

How many full-time staff does your organization have? *

In a typical year, how many grant reports or funder reports does your organization produce? *

1–3 4–10 11–25 More than 25

Please answer the highlighted questions before continuing.

The last time

Think back to the most recent time your team had to produce a funder report, evaluation, or outcomes summary. Walk me through what actually happened, from the first task to the final submission. *

What took the most time? What got done last-minute? The specific story is more useful than a general description.

This one matters most — even a few sentences helps.

Where things stand

Which of the following describes your current situation? *

Pick up to three.

Our theory of change or logic model is out of date or nonexistent Our indicators do not match what we actually track Our data lives in too many places and does not connect We do not have the right people to do this work in-house The work gets done but nobody uses the findings Funders ask for things we cannot easily produce The frameworks we have built sit on a shelf None of the above

If you could hand off one specific piece of your evaluation, measurement, or impact reporting work to someone or something else tomorrow — what would it be, and what makes that the one? *

Please answer both questions before continuing.

How true is each of these?

1 = strongly disagree · 5 = strongly agree *

When your team disagrees about whether a program is working, what do you usually end up arguing about?

Is it about the numbers themselves, what they mean, whether you're measuring the right thing — or something else? (Optional, but revealing.)

Please rate all five statements before continuing.

What you've tried

Which of the following have you invested in over the last three years? *

Select all that apply.

Strategic planning consultant or facilitator Theory of change or logic model work Formal program evaluation Data management or dashboard tools Measurement or impact reporting software Training in evaluation or measurement Hiring an in-house evaluation or data role None of the above

If you could change one thing about how your organization does evaluation, measurement, or impact work — what would it be?

Please answer the investment question before continuing.

Last question

Would you be open to a 30-minute follow-up conversation? *

A small number of respondents will be invited to talk in more depth. No pitch — same rules as the survey.

Yes — happy to talk Maybe — depends on timing No thanks

Please answer — and include an email if you said yes.

Thank you.

Your answers are in. Findings from this research will be shared back openly later this fall — watch the Anthralytic newsletter if you'd like to see what comes of it.

If you know two or three people who should weigh in, forwarding this link helps more than you might think.

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