Kevin Starr talks about his article "Don't Feed the Zombies" and how if we focus on measuring reach, instead of caring about impact, we end up doing harm in the world. His vision is a world where you can't get taken seriously if you can't talk about real, measurable change in the lives of people we serve, and the evidence to back it up. "The minute you commit to impact, and a definition thereof, you're starting to be part of the solution." What's a definition of impact? Evidence of change that happened in someone's life, and a plausible description about how your part in that change worked. If we (especially donors) are not accountable for impact, they end up supporting groups that aren't accountable to the people they serve, and are not driving for the full potential of what we can get done in the world. Here are some other links to check out:
Life Happens: Balancing Rigor and Lived Truth
From $2 to $20: getting more impact for the dollar in international development
Why Resilience Beats Sustainability
Stop Analyzing and Act
Perception is Everything
Sit in the Failure
Get Over It: Learning from Failure 2022
The Data Belongs to Them
We should not be a burden
Always Have a Plan B: How to Assess Risk within Partnerships
Know Your Partners
What we think we know: why cash didn’t work without addressing GBV
La conversación difícil e incómoda (en español)
Myths about Flexibility
Innovation is not enough: Gender, Technology, and Water in Kenya
The Chance To Choose Something Different: Crypto, Cash, and Refugees
Don’t Be Afraid to Stop When It’s Not Working
Reflection and Risk: Lessons from Girl-Led Activism
More listening: Taking feedback to create and use more effective standards
It’s not a choice: Connecting Cash and GBV
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The Commercial Edge: Unleash the Power of People
The emPOWERed Half Hour
Advocacy Scoop Podcast
Social Dallas Podcast
Change Church Podcast
Six Degrees with Kevin Bacon
Nonprofits Are Messy: Lessons in Leadership | Fundraising | Board Development | Communications