
Performance Management Learning Community
We are currently phasing out the Performance Management Learning Community (PMLC). As we develop our new 5-year strategic plan, we will be considering how our future commitment to data-informed nonprofit work will be designed. Please contact Frank Ridzi with any questions.
The Performance Management Learning Community (PMLC) offered grants and learning opportunities to nonprofits looking to improve data measurement, which includes such things as database management and statistical analysis, to help track efforts and look for trends. This assists organizations in identifying what is working and what’s not, leading to the development of more effective programming, funding competitiveness and impactful storytelling. The program consisted of three courses: Performance Management Prep, Intermediate and Pro. Applicants had to commit to participating in a monthly learning community in order to qualify for a grant.
- Built capacity to demonstrate both outcomes (i.e. measureable impact on community needs) and outputs (i.e. number of people served)
- Addressed an identifiable community need (preference to literacy, lead poisoning prevention or poverty programs)
- Used a logical approach, emphasize assessment and have long-term sustainability
- Created a new, or improve a current, process for data collection
- May have involved one organization or a collaboration between multiple organizations
- Could have involve hiring and working with consultants or external evaluators
Additional Information about the Program
- For learning the concepts of gathering and utilizing data
- Four-month course that typically ran from February through May
- Typically included one Learning Community Session per month
- Allowed participants to share their project implementation experiences with each other and eventually with the wider Central New York Region
- Yearlong course with intensive Learning Community Sessions in the months of January and June
- Participants collaborated, shared and developed a project to implement within the Central New York region
- Four-month course that typically ran from January through April
- Typically included one to two Learning Community Sessions per month
PMLC Prep | PMLC Intermediate | PMLC Pro | |
---|---|---|---|
Audience | Intended for organizations that are in the beginning stages of using data management. | Intended for organizations that have begun using data to create reports, but have yet to master the skills to produce charts, graphs, and analysis to drive decision making. | Intended for organizations that have mastered the skills listed in Prep and Pro – but are interested in working with other organizations to collaborate and network on best ways to solve community needs. |
Requirements | Complete Life Needs Assessment Surveys of 100 clients
Attend six learning community sessions |
Complete Life Needs Assessment Surveys of 100 clients
Attend ten learning community sessions Complete ten labs Provide midterm assessment and final report |
Complete Life Needs Assessments Surveys of 100 clients
Attend six learning community sessions Develop a joint white paper based on results of Life Needs Assessment Survey |
Participants | Beginner/Novice data managers
Grant writers Program Associates New learning community participants |
Intermediate data managers
Grant writers Program Managers New or previous learning community participants |
Proficient data managers
Program Officers or Directors Previous learning community participants |
Grant Amount | Up to $5,000 | Up to $20,000 | Up to $5,000 |
The Life Needs Assessment is a collaborative effort to assess and respond to the needs of our clients. Our partner organizations, including all Performance Management Learning Community participants, continue to collect and evaluate responses to the survey to develop a more robust picture of each neighborhood’s distinctive characteristics and needs.
All Performance Management grantees were expected to collect data from the clients of their proposed programs using the needs assessment survey and share de-identified data at the census tract level with other members of their learning community.