Most organizations track activity.
But funders are looking for outcomes — and increasingly, they’re looking for something more:
Impact beyond the individual level.
Activity looks like:
- Number of workshops held
- Number of participants served
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Individual outcomes look like:
- Skills gained
- Jobs secured
- Health improved
Those matter.
Related: Dissecting logic models-goals, outcomes, outputs- oh my!
But funders are also asking:
Is anything changing at the community level?
Are barriers being reduced?
Are systems improving?
Is access increasing for more people over time?
Is there a measurable shift beyond just program participants?
In other words:
They don’t just want to know if you helped people.
They want to know if you’re helping move the needle.
This doesn’t mean every organization needs to solve large-scale systemic issues.
But it does mean being able to connect your work to a broader impact.
For example:
A workforce program doesn’t just place individuals in jobs — it contributes to local employment trends
A food access program doesn’t just serve meals — it improves food stability in a specific area
A youth program doesn’t just support participants — it influences long-term educational or behavioral outcomes in the community
Action steps:
✅ Track both individual outcomes and broader community indicators
✅ Identify how your work contributes to larger trends
✅ Use local or regional data to support your impact story
Funders are looking for more than activities and outputs.
They’re looking for change they can see — not just in people, but in communities.
Until next time,
Write Epic Grants