Key Metrics, Focus Area Metrics, and Goal Metrics

By setting, pursuing, and analyzing progress toward a metric you and your team will develop strategic skills that will help you run a more effective and impactful organization. 

We utilize three different types of metrics on our strategic plans:

• Key Metrics - Somewhat timeless measures that indicate a nonprofit’s overall success. Ideally, you’d have no more than three to five Key Metrics.
  • Examples:
    • Tons of CO2 reduced
    • Mortality rate reduction
    • % increase in literacy
• Focus Area Metrics - Measures used to indicate progress within “focus areas”, typically in a three-year timeframe. Ideally you’d have no more than three metrics for each focus area.
  • Examples:
    • $ raised in a capital campaign
    • # of board members
    • Staff member retention rate
• Goal Metrics - Measures used to indicate progress in completing a goal, typically in a one-year or less timeframe. Ideally, you’d have no more than one or two metrics per goal.
  • Examples:
    • # of grants submitted
    • # of workshops delivered
    • # of Twitter followers