Big Heavy World Completes Results Based Accountability Training

Big Heavy World is among 16 nonprofit agencies state-wide to complete the Benchmarks for a Better Vermont’s Performance Institute. The training helped prepare Big Heavy to use results based accountability practices to better measure its success and improve its programs. Benchmarks for a Better Vermont is a two-year initiative run by a consortium of organizations committed to strengthening Vermont's nonprofit sector. The program was initially made possible by a $200,000 grant from the federal Corporation for National and Community Service with matching financial support from each of the consortium partners as well as the A.D. Henderson foundation. Marlboro College Graduate School of Brattleboro serves as the lead agency. Other partners include the Vermont Community Foundation, Common Good Vermont, SerVermont, United Ways of Vermont, and the United Ways of Addison, Chittenden, Lamoille and Windham Counties.

The BBVT Performance Institute strengthened the reach and sustainability of 16 small to medium Vermont nonprofits. Over 16 months of training and technical assistance, they took on the challenge of answering the basic question Mark Friedman poses in his classic book, Trying Hard is Not Good Enough: "What would we do differently if outcomes really mattered?" Along the way, they gained the organizational capability to gather data, determine which activities/programs are most effective, focus resources, and share their success with funders and the wider community.

For further information about Benchmarks for a Better Vermont or its Results-Based Accountability Performance Institute, contact Kate Jellema at katej@gradschool.marlboro.edu.