Measuring and Sustaining Impact
Often financial empowerment programs for people with disabilities start small and, with time, expand to meet the broader needs of the community. To sustain impact, it is crucial to set up a solid infrastructure, including identifying funding sources, that can enable you to grow the program.
Evaluating impact is part of this process. Measuring outcomes helps you stay true to your mission, identify strengths and weaknesses in the program and prove the value of the service offered.
How should I evaluate the impact of my program?
Think about your evaluation before you begin delivering services so you can collect the right data along the way. Identify the purpose of the evaluation and develop a written plan that recognizes your evaluation goals and your capacity (staff time and expertise).
Below are resources related to evaluating and sustaining financial education/coaching programs in general:
- Financial Coaching: A Strategy to Improve Financial Well-being
- An Evaluation of the Impacts and Implementation Approaches of Financial Coaching Programs
- The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has developed a list of possible outcome measures you might want to consider when evaluating financial capability programs: Tracking Success in Financial Capability and Empowerment Programs
Stay Informed
National Disability Institute (NDI) is in the process of developing a resource that addresses issues specific to evaluating programs for people with disabilities, such as how to identify participants with disabilities in your data and how to identify important outcome measures.
Sign up for our email list so that we can update you when new materials are available.
How should I evaluate the impact of my program?
Think about your evaluation before you begin delivering services so you can collect the right data along the way. Identify the purpose of the evaluation and develop a written plan that recognizes your evaluation goals and your capacity (staff time and expertise).
Below are resources related to evaluating and sustaining financial education/coaching programs in general:
- Financial Coaching: A Strategy to Improve Financial Well-being
- An Evaluation of the Impacts and Implementation Approaches of Financial Coaching Programs
- The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has developed a list of possible outcome measures you might want to consider when evaluating financial capability programs: Tracking Success in Financial Capability and Empowerment Programs
Stay Informed
National Disability Institute (NDI) is in the process of developing a resource that addresses issues specific to evaluating programs for people with disabilities, such as how to identify participants with disabilities in your data and how to identify important outcome measures.
Sign up for our email list so that we can update you when new materials are available.
Where can I find funding to sustain my program?
Funding may come from private or public sources. As the field continues to identify more evidence that integrating financial empowerment strategies into disability services improves employment outcomes and job retention for participants, several federal programs have started to fund these services.
How to Build an Infrastructure for Sustainability
To support ongoing staff capacity, funding and more.
There are several key factors, besides funding, that play a crucial role in ensuring the sustainability of a financial empowerment program for people with disabilities. These include developing processes that fully integrate into your service delivery, fostering strong ongoing leadership, developing a system that evolves with the needs of your community, building partnerships and including relevant training into your ongoing staff training plan. NDI is researching effective sustainability models and will share more information in the coming months.
Sign up for our email list so that we can update you when new materials are available.
Other Steps in the Framework
I want to learn about:
1
The Needs of People with Disabilities
2
Financial Empowerment Models
3
Taking Action and Implementing
Questions?
If you have questions about our Empowered Cities initiative or want more information about NDI’s projects, please call (202) 296-2040 or email info@ndi-inc.org.
