Delivering Impact at Your Nonprofit through Accountability

Welcome to our first lessons on impact accountability. On the Merit platform, we consider accountability from two perspectives. First, in our classes on implementation accountability, we look at how we keep ourselves and our nonprofits responsible for executing our plans. Second, in the following lessons on impact accountability, we explore how we hold ourselves accountable for making a meaningful and measurable impact.

In the bronze badge lessons on impact-focused accountability, we’ll explore this type of accountability by defining impact, accountability, and outcomes. We’ll then consider why accountability is essential to assessing our impact. We’ll work through the skills you can use to enhance long-term ownership and examine hallmarks of effectiveness and measurement surrounding this concept.

Let’s jump in!

*Note that a transcript of all audio is available for download on the lessons to come, as well as an audio-only version of the lessons. You can always turn on closed-captions on the video player settings above.

In this lesson, we'll jump in on an overview of what impact accountability is and define three terms within this concept - impact, accountability, and outcomes.

Be sure to download the transcript to begin building your reference library, and also feel free to use the audio-only download below for on-the-go learning.

Now that you have some basics about impact accountability, let's take a look at accountability's importance in managing outcomes and impact.

Remember, you can download the transcript for this video below, and can also turn closed captions on and off for your convenience.

In this lesson, we'll look at the key skills to support impact accountability practices. Remember: skills can be learned, practiced, and developed over time, so if you feel that you have a little (or a lot of!) room for improvement, know that you're on the right track!

Be sure to download the transcript to begin building your reference library, and also feel free to use the audio-only download below for on-the-go learning.

In this lesson, we'll bring together our learning on what effective impact-focused accountability looks like, and how can we measure them.

Be sure to download the transcript to add to your reference library, and also feel free to use the audio-only download below for on-the-go learning.

Our nonprofits want to make an impact and likely have a good sense of what that impact should be. We are often diligent about creating plans that envision and document how we’ll make that impact. We apply good implementation accountability practices to ensure that we’re carrying out our plans. But how can we hold ourselves accountable for ensuring that all of our implementation is happening in support of the greater vision for impact?

Remember, you can download the audio and transcript for this video below, and can also turn closed captions on and off for your convenience.

Welcome to our silver badge lessons on impact accountability! As you work toward your silver badge, you’ll go deeper into the “how” of accountability: how we can activate accountability in our organizations, how to lead impact-focused accountability efforts, and setting goals that look to build up your capacity and that of your organization in these efforts.

Let’s jump in on our next lesson on activating our impact accountability efforts in our nonprofits!

*Remember that a transcript of all audio is available for download in the lessons to come, and you can always turn on closed-captions on the video settings above.

Impact accountability, as a core capacity of our nonprofits, helps us measure and understand the difference we're making. More specifically, we want to focus on our social impact, or how we are addressing a pressing social need.

Be sure to download the transcript to review your learning.

Now that we have a little bit of foundation in your impact accountability efforts, let's think about how we can apply this to your organization.

Remember, you can download the transcript for this video below, and can also turn closed captions on and off for your convenience.

In this lesson, we'll look at how to put impact accountability efforts into practice with a look at how to assess and measure it in your nonprofit.

Be sure to download the transcript to review your learning.

Remember that everything that you're learning on the Merit platform is focused on helping you and your nonprofit improve how you do what you do. To that end, let's explore one approach to goal-setting that will help you improve how you personally approach your own accountability habits surrounding the impact your work makes.

Be sure to download the transcript to review your learning.

Goals can get us to new levels of functionality in many areas of our organization. We'll next consider how setting impact accountability goals for your nonprofit can be successful both at the individual and team levels.

Remember, you can download the transcript for this video below, and can also turn closed captions on and off for your convenience.

Welcome to your final series of courses on impact accountability! We’ve covered a lot of ground on what accountability is and isn’t, how you can put it into practice, and what it looks like when it’s done well. In our gold-level lessons, we’ll bring this learning together to explore how we can get and stay motivated to build up our own impact-focused accountability abilities. We’ll also look at some ways to understand our colleagues’ motivation or resistance.

These lessons also include a review of all we have covered in our work on impact accountability, and you’ll have the opportunity to complete a personal learning plan to conclude your learning.

Let's jump in!

*Note that a transcript of all audio is available for download on the lessons to come, as well as an audio-only version of the lessons. You can always turn on closed-captions on the video player settings above.

In this lesson, we'll look at how motivation can be supported in building impact accountability efforts in your organization.

Be sure to download the transcript to not only review your learning but also to see the research references used in this lesson.

In this lesson, we're going to discuss how we can inspire others to get personally motivated about nonprofit impact accountability, especially those who may be resistant.

Remember, you can download the transcript for this video below, and can also turn closed captions on and off for your convenience.

In this final teaching lesson on impact accountability, we're bringing together all our learning into a capstone video on how we can grow from everything we've covered thus far!

Be sure to download the transcript to not only review your learning but also to see the research references used in this lesson.