Article On What Attorneys And Other Advisers Need To Know About Program Assessment

Jennifer Miller Oertel, Paul P. Freddolino, & Donna Freddolino recently published and article entitled,  Proving that they are doing good: what attorneys and other advisers need to know about program assessment, 59 Wayne L. Rev. 693-711 (2013). Provided below is an excerpt from the article:

Investigative Report of Greg Mortenson and Central Asia Institute by the Montana Attorney General, Steve Bullock, on April 5, 2012 announced a settlement agreement with Mortenson and the Central Asia Institute (CAI), concluding a year-long investigation into allegations of mismanagement of assets by Mortenson and the charity. Based on the results of the investigation, the Attorney General concluded that CAI’s board of directors failed to fulfill some of their responsibilities as board members of a nonprofit charity. Further, Mortenson failed to fulfill some of his responsibilities as executive director and as an officer and director of the organization.

How do you know that a program designed and supported to achieve a particular social impact actually delivers results? How can you be assured that the charitable intention of a client supporting such programs is being served in an efficient manner? Do you rely on self-reported data, a third party resource, or your “gut”? What if your client’s payment for services rendered hinges upon proving such impact, which must be objectively defined in a contract? With the increasing focus on accountability, including “pay for success” programs, having a clear understanding of alternative ways to document fulfillment of intended outcomes is essential.