Nonprofit Impact Matrix

Our world is constantly changing. As a leader, you must evaluate what is necessary for your organization to remain effective.

Seth Godin created an Impact Matrix that helps businesses assess the effectiveness and significance of their work. The simple matrix categorizes tactics vs strategy.

I’ve taken Seth’s idea and created a Nonprofit Impact Matrix with four quadrants: Incompetent, Stumbling, Waste, & Effective.

The worst outcome is a misguided strategy supported by poorly executed tactics.

A 2 x 2 grid helps visualize how strategy and tactics work together … or don’t. Examples of each square are listed below.

Incompetent: On a mission trip two decades ago, my team served in a clothing free store created by a church. The ‘store’ was located in the church parsonage where two bedrooms were filled with bags of clothing and several portable hanging racks. It was a sad environment.

The church was misguided. It lacked both strategy and tactics to offer free clothing in a dignified environment. Greater impact would be to support an existing clothing nonprofit with volunteers & donations from the church.

Stumbling: I was on a team that started up a sober living house for men. Each man living in the house had responsibilities; go to AA meetings, get a job, pay rent, maintain the house, and keep each other accountable. House expenses were covered by the monthly rent each man paid. When the 2008 financial crisis hit, men living in the house lost their jobs. Those that had just moved in could not find a job. Revenue dried up. The house was closed.

The house stumbled because we didn’t include an emergency fund in the budget. A common tactic was left out.

Waste: Joseph’s Coat offers furniture, clothing and household goods at no cost to families. I was a volunteer and board director at Joseph’s Coat. At a board meeting, the question came up, “how do we measure impact?” Joseph’s Coat had stumbled along for 10 years before someone asked the impact question.

By measuring impact, leadership realized resources were being wasted. In one area, they stopped buying personal care items.

Effective: HEART Food Pantry is an example of an organization that has effectively used tactics and strategy to build a healthy organization. Leadership has shown up and used skills to motivate staff, volunteers & community partners to nourish neighbors to flourish. HEART’s vision of building a larger multi-use facility to share with community partners came to fruition as construction began this spring.

When strategies and tactics are aligned, mission impact grows.

Where is your organization on the Impact Matrix.

What does leadership need to do to be more effective?

To effectively growing impact,

Wes Legg

Coach & Guide