Tracking Donors…Tracking Participants
Nonprofits have gained remarkable sophistication in tracking their donors.Thanks to Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce, and other software, they have notonly impressive...
Put Results First
Practical steps to harness the power of destination.
This book is published by Results 1st. In one place you will find virtually all of the principles and guidelines Results1st offers its clients and colleagues. While we can help with execution, these starting points in understanding are critical. They start with the critical distinction between an activity and a result.
The book reflects the years of experience of its author, Hal Williams. See his one-page bio here. Much of his success for over 200 clients is due to cutting through process and structure that often slows down achievement without adding value to it. The book departs from much conventional wisdom on outcomes, impacts, performance metrics. It looks to simplify and make practical result topics that get lost in logic models, strategic plans, proposals, budgets, and organization charts.
About the Book
Do outcome frameworks and evaluation seem like heavy requirements added to your nonprofit work? If so, your nonprofit has made results a piece when they should be the point. This book has almost countless tools, steps and examples that let you do something simple yet powerful: put results first and then design programs to achieve them.
Need more money? This book offers the best way to get it. Donors are increasingly less interested in how many persons you serve than how many got better. They also want to know if the gains for which you take credit would reasonably have happened if you did not exist. The book guides you in verifying (not just stating) the difference you have made.
This Book is For ...
- Nonprofit leaders of organizations which are tiny to very large
- Nonprofit staff who want to add energy through achievement more than aspiration.
- Leaders and coordinators of collaborate groups and associations who want to see synergy and force in togetherness
- Foundations seeking to support nonprofit capability
- Governments who want contracting groups to create the greatest pubic gain for the dollars available
- Individual donors who want to know what was achieved when their money is spent
Reviews
Here are early comments from those reviewing the book before publication:
Having known and worked with Hal Williams for decades, I'm a disciple of his "Results First" philosophy and way of doing "business". His latest book captures his lessons and how to put results first. How do you know your programs are working? What is the human gain of your work? An essential and easy read for you and your Teams that will inspire you and them to get results!
I’m changing my employee review process to shift from what people do to what they achieve. Hal has amazing clarity with words and actions. The numerous examples and quick applications throughout the book are remarkably useful. Most books on organizations stay in the air. This one lives on your ground.
Hal Williams has been a voice whispering in my ear through my foundation leadership positions. Now each time I learn about exciting work in the nonprofit space, my first question is, “What is the human gain?” This simple reflection helps us support what really matters—investing in positive change. This book will speak to you as well. Listen as you read!
In my leadership of government agencies and initiatives in New York State, I have used the results tools in this book. They are powerful and apply to both small and large nonprofits. Chapter 8 and its prescription for seeding innovation is one example. Fresh approaches are vital when you set results that cannot be achieved by redoubling efforts.
About the Author
Results 1st … is a resource for foundations, governments, and nonprofit organizations that seek to define, track, verify, and communicate the results they achieve.
Hal’s clients for increasing and verifying results include the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, American Express, Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, the Duke Endowment, and the Annie E. Casey Humana, Prudential, Starwood Hotels, and Verizon Foundations. His government clients include mayors and city managers in such cities as Albany, New York, Grand Rapids Michigan, and Seattle, Washington. He has worked with governors of Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington, and West Virginia. Hal has served as lead consultant to a U.S. Presidential Commission.
Hal’s Blog
Hal also writes a blog on diverse result themes. Here are his last four entries:
The Power of Free
In my last blog I focused on a book I found in a sidewalk Little Free Library. I followedthe guidance...
Start Your Nonprofit Organization
I found this 2024 book in a sidewalk little library (take a book—give a book) whilerecently in Denver. In 170...
Did I Do My Best Today?
In Results 1st we aim for curiosity. Questions are far more powerful at learning andsteering conversation that are assertions. Yet...