What are the best practices for reporting advocacy outcomes to funders?

1 Define your advocacy goals and indicators

Before you start your advocacy work, you need to have a clear vision of what you want to achieve and how you will measure your progress and success. You can use a logic model, a theory of change, or a similar framework to map out your advocacy goals, activities, outputs, outcomes, and impacts. You also need to identify the indicators that will help you track and evaluate your advocacy results. These indicators should be SMART: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.

3 Tell a compelling story

Data alone is not enough to communicate your advocacy outcomes to funders. You also need to tell a compelling story that illustrates how your advocacy work made a difference for your clients and the community. You can use case studies, testimonials, quotes, photos, videos, or other forms of storytelling to highlight the human and social aspects of your advocacy work. You should also use clear and simple language, avoid jargon and acronyms, and use visual aids such as graphs, charts, or infographics to make your report more engaging and accessible.

4 Align with the funder's requirements and expectations

Different funders may have different requirements and expectations for reporting advocacy outcomes. Some may have specific formats, templates, or guidelines that you need to follow. Others may be more flexible and open to your suggestions. You should always consult with your funder and understand their reporting preferences and criteria. You should also align your report with the funder's mission, vision, values, and goals, and show how your advocacy work supports and advances their agenda.

5 Seek feedback and improvement

Reporting advocacy outcomes to funders is not a one-time event, but an ongoing process of learning and improvement. You should always seek feedback from your funder and other stakeholders on your report and your advocacy work. You should also reflect on your own strengths and weaknesses, and identify areas for improvement. You should also use the feedback and reflection to inform your future advocacy work and reporting, and show how you are adapting and evolving based on the lessons learned.

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?