Share your outcomes, not just your outputs.

RU Ready to lift your nonprofit?

Nonprofits love numbers. We count volunteer hours, people served, books donated, trees planted—you name it. These numbers are examples of your outputs, and they are great for tracking activity, but they don’t tell the full story.

Imagine telling donors, “We distributed 5,000 books this year!” Sounds impressive, right? But what if you also said, “Thanks to those books, 80% of participating students improved their reading skills and now feel more confident in class!” That’s an outcome—and that’s where the magic happens.

Outputs vs. Outcomes: The Difference Between Doing and Changing

• Outputs measure activity. (Think: "We provided 70 hours of job counseling to 40 individuals.")

• Outcomes measure change. (Think: "67% of those individuals are now gainfully employed!")

Funders and supporters don’t just want to know what you did—they want to know why it matters. Did your meal distribution actually reduce food insecurity in your community? Did your youth program boost graduation rates? These stories turn cold, hard numbers into warm, fuzzy impact.

How to Share Outcomes Without the Snooze Factor

• Collect real stories – A heartfelt testimonial is worth a thousand spreadsheets.

• Make data fun – Visuals, infographics, and quick stats help drive the message home.

• Track long-term effects – Show not just what changed today, but how it shapes tomorrow.

By sharing both outputs and outcomes, you create a powerful narrative that inspires deeper support. Numbers impress, but stories move people to act. And in the nonprofit world, that is what really counts!

Now go tell the world what your work is really doing!