Creating Powerful Impact Statements

Writing impacts

Why are powerful impact statements needed?

Good science gets projects funded; powerful impacts get programs reauthorized.  Learn to write impact statements that are useful and memorable from these narrated PowerPoint presentations.

Creating Powerful Impact Statements 

This is an overview of the importance of creating powerful impact statements, with attention to drawing funder attention to your work.

Ties to Logic Model

Once you’ve written a program or project logic model, half the work of documenting the impact of your work is done. From the problem to the outcomes, this presentation shows those relationships as you create a concise and memorable impact statement. Learn about the distinctions among short-, medium-, and long-term outcomes. Interpretation of outcomes is impact.

Writing for the Average Voter

Does your writing style reduce the memorability of your impact statement? This file will help you understand the impact of vocabulary, units, and voice on reading comprehension level. If your program area focuses on youth, family or community systems, you may benefit from a brief introduction to social return on investment.

Tips for Creating Funder-Useful Impact Statements

Tips for Creating Funder Useful Impact Statements. A one page pdf pointing out some of the most common errors when faculty write impact statements.

Twitter in Ten Minutes

What is Twitter?  Why Tweet?  Learn how to drive your audience to learn more about your research using Twitter.

Powerful Impact Resources

Video:  Impact Blues

Need a lift?  Gain some insights about the difference between “impact” and “attribution”.  Professional evaluator Terry Smutlyo sings a song about impact during an outcome mapping workshop. (Video)

Video:  Aha! moments in program evaluation: Surveys

What are some key take-home messages in designing a survey? Here are some handy tips shared in a conversation between Molly Engle, Evaluation Specialist, and Linda Brewer, Senior Faculty Research Assistant of OSU Extension. This is the first in a series of video blogs from the OSU Extension Service on Program Evaluation.

Video:  Aha! Moments in program evaluation:  Needs Assessment
What is the problem to solve? What is the gap between two conditions?  How will you address it?  What if you don't address the problem?    Molly Engle, Evaluation Specialist in OSU Extension and Sam Angima, Regional Administrator in OSU Extension, have an insightful conversation about the needs assessment process.

Excel for Evaluation

Excel is a great tool for data analysis--if you know how to use it.  The Excel for Evaluation videos to show beginner- and intermediate-level Excel users how to analyze  data. Each video is 1-4 minutes long and uses examples from real evaluation projects.

LOGIC MODEL RESOURCES

A) Wisconsin Logic Model

Logic Model, University of Wisconsin

The Wisconsin Logic Model is at the center of University of Wisconsin-Extension program development and is referred to widely.  You will find many resources located here, in particular, the graphic of the Program Action-Logic Model is helpful for visualizing inputs, outputs and outcomes.

B)  Key Considerations for Development of Logic Models

Logic models are a popular format to illustrate a program, or aspects of a program, to aid in program planning, implementation, or evaluation. This tool will help you visualize and prepare to build an effective logic model.

Reporting Examples for 5 Extension Work Areas

Literature Citations

These are pdf documents created for specific training presentations. No attempt has been made to keep them up to date.

Evaluation
Impact

Useful websites for creating memorable impact statements

Honing your presentation skills

Video:  Made to Stick: Presentations that Stick

Make your presentations as memorable as an urban legend. Dan Heath, co-author of “Made to Stick,” gives you three minutes of advice on presenting ideas for maximum memorability.

35 Top Presentation Books

If you're interested in the most effective books regarding creating presentations, 21 of these focus on content and delivery, 14 focus on visuals.  You don't have to invent the wheel.

Guidance from NIFA for Outcome Writing

In response to the demand for general guidance from diverse audiences on how to improve their outcome writing, NIFA has prepared a presentation outlining such guidance. This presentation is intended to be generic enough that it can be shared amongst various colleagues and partners and span multiple disciplines. You will note that some screenshots are from the POW system, but they are generic in that they are not labeled as such and simply list indicators and outcome statements.

2021 Workshop

 

Linda Brewer
Linda Brewer