How can you measure philanthropic investments in affordable childcare for low-income families?

2 Choose your indicators and data sources

Once you have your theory of change, you need to decide what indicators you will use to measure your progress and impact. Indicators are measurable and observable data points that reflect the changes you want to see. For example, some indicators of affordable childcare for low-income families could be the number of children enrolled, the quality of care provided, the cost savings for parents, the employment outcomes for parents, and the developmental outcomes for children. You also need to determine what data sources you will use to collect and analyze your indicators, such as surveys, interviews, administrative records, or third-party reports.

3 Design your evaluation approach and methods

The next step is to design your evaluation approach and methods, which will determine how you will collect, analyze, and interpret your data. There are different types of evaluation approaches and methods, depending on your purpose, context, and resources. For example, you could use a formative evaluation to monitor and improve your implementation, a summative evaluation to assess your outcomes and impact, or a mixed-methods evaluation to combine quantitative and qualitative data. You also need to consider the ethical and practical issues involved in conducting your evaluation, such as informed consent, confidentiality, validity, reliability, and bias.

4 Implement your evaluation and report your findings

The final step is to implement your evaluation and report your findings. This involves collecting and analyzing your data according to your evaluation plan, and presenting and communicating your results to your stakeholders. You should also use your findings to inform your decision-making, learning, and improvement. Your evaluation report should include a clear and concise summary of your goals, methods, findings, limitations, and recommendations. You should also use visual aids, such as graphs, charts, and infographics, to illustrate your data and highlight your key messages.

5 Learn from others and share your lessons

Measuring philanthropic investments in affordable childcare for low-income families is not a one-time or isolated activity. It is an ongoing and collaborative process that requires learning from others and sharing your lessons. You can benefit from the experiences and insights of other philanthropists, practitioners, researchers, and advocates who are working on similar or related issues. You can also contribute to the collective knowledge and practice of the field by sharing your evaluation results, challenges, and best practices. By doing so, you can enhance your impact, accountability, and credibility, and support the development of more effective and sustainable solutions for affordable childcare.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?