In her original research with over 200 government and nonprofit organizations, Sheri Chaney Jones found a strong positive correlation between organizational outcomes and cultures that value data and measurement. Those of us who are committed to our mission driven work should take note of this important finding.

Data driven change is not, as many have long thought, a way to make the social sector more like the business sector. Quite the contrary—Impact & Excellence is a manual for using measurement to capture the strengths of mission­ driven organizations, allowing us to do even more good in the communities we serve.

In an era of tight budgets and funding challenges, social sector organizations are suffering. Public opinion of government agencies and nonprofits is at a remarkable low. Leaders of these organizations need to breathe renewed vitality into the work of promoting the social good. In Impact & Excellence, Sheri Chaney Jones shows exactly where this vitality will come from. Using the “Five Cs” framework, readers will be inspired to implement measurement cultures, not out of fear, but out of excitement. This book’s distinctively practical orientation allows leaders to create action plans that account for their unique realities, identifying and overcoming obstacles along the way.

There is no clearer case for the value of measurement than the author’s four year study. Impact & Excellence draws on the evidence to present illuminating case studies and success stories that anyone can emulate. Using templates, discussion questions, and the High Measurement Culture and Leadership Self Assessment Tool, readers of Impact & Excellence can provide their organizations with hands on guidance through radical transformation and high performance.