IMPACT STUDY EXPANSION
IMPACT STUDY EXPANSION
Explore working with Slingshot
We invite organizations that improve the health, income, or quality of life for our neighbors experiencing poverty in Memphis, TN to explore working with us. Twice each year, beginning in February and August, Slingshot actively seeks to expand the number of poverty-fighting organizations we work alongside. Working with Slingshot focuses on three primary functions to help amplify poverty-fighting impact:
1. Impact Study
An evidence-based study of an organization’s poverty-fighting effectiveness using Slingshot’s proprietary methodology. Impact studies are conducted annually to measure current effectiveness and changes over time. The results of the impact study provide insights on an organization’s relative poverty-fighting strengths and opportunities. To learn more, view the Impact Study Methodology section of our website.
2. Opportunities for Greater Impact
Each impact study includes actionable opportunities that could help an organization enhance its poverty-fighting impact. Slingshot also provides ongoing thought partnership to help address these and other opportunities to enhance poverty-fighting impact.
3. Impact Funding
Each year, Slingshot raises funds from the community via our Accelerate Impact Fund and invests 100% of these funds in the organizations we work alongside. These funds are meant to amplify effective programs and services, and not be a primary source of funding. To learn more, view the Accelerate Impact Fund Methodology section of our website.
Criteria for Organizations
We seek to work with organizations that help alleviate poverty in a variety of ways. Below are the minimum criteria for an organization to ensure it is a good fit with our methodology.
- A meaningful proportion of participants are experiencing poverty or at risk of experiencing poverty
- Programming helps improve the health, income, or quality of life for participants
- Programming is geographically focused on Memphis and Shelby County, TN (national or statewide organizations need to have an affiliate office within Shelby County)
- Have at least one complete fiscal year of financial and program data, including for the most recently completed fiscal year
- Have a board of directors, in the case of a nonprofit organization, or be under fiscal control of an organization with a board of directors
- Have staff capacity to participate in a 4-5 month baseline impact study that includes 10-15 meetings and several data requests
The most effective time to begin impact studies tends to be soon after the conclusion of an organization’s fiscal or program year. Due to this, preference for our March expansion is given to organizations with fiscal years beginning April to September. Preference for our August expansion is given to organizations with fiscal years beginning October to March.
Timeline and Process
The impact study expansion process has three phases sequenced over approximately ten weeks.
Phase
Timeline
Information
Phase 1
focuses on getting to know your organization, including how you help alleviate poverty and why you are interested in participating in Slingshot’s Impact Study.
Opens:
August 28, 2023
Closes:
September 15, 2023
A PDF of the Phase 1 questionnaire can be previewed here.
Phase 2
focuses on better understanding your programs and how they help alleviate poverty, as well as your organization’s capacity to complete the Impact Study.
By invitation only
The Phase 2 questionnaire is shared by invitation only, however, the questions can be previewed here.
Phase 3
focuses on getting to know your team members and organization in more detail, and includes a site visit.
By invitation only
Phase 3 is conducted via a meeting, with questions customized for each organization.
FAQ
$0. There is no charge or fee to participate in Slingshot’s Impact Study. Slingshot’s generous Principal Investors cover all of our operating costs, including the costs to conduct impact studies for poverty-fighting organizations.
A baseline impact study is conducted the first year Slingshot works alongside an organization. It provides a comprehensive profile of an organization’s programs, interventions, and poverty-fighting impact. Baseline impact studies take between 4 to 5 months and include 10 to 15 meetings. Each year thereafter, an impact study update is conducted to identify changes that influence poverty-fighting impact since the previous impact study. Impact study updates are typically 2-3 months and include 7 to 10 meetings.
Organizations that are interested in participating in the impact study can fill out the Impact Study Interest Form to be added to our mailing list about upcoming impact study expansion opportunities. You may also contact Doug Campbell with any additional questions.
At the conclusion of the impact study, Slingshot shares the results for each of the four dimensions: Benefit-Cost Ratio, Systems-Level Change, Use of Best Practices, and Measurement Infrastructure. These results are based on the strength of evidence collected during the impact study and help Slingshot suggest several opportunities for greater impact. For each opportunity, Slingshot shares an actionable explanation to help empower organizations to address the opportunity. After the impact study, Slingshot offers ongoing thought partnership to support organizations in enhancing their poverty-fighting effectiveness. Organizations that complete the impact study are eligible to receive an annual financial investment from Slingshot’s Accelerate Impact Fund at the end of the year.
View a webinar recording to learn more about the Impact Study Expansion process.
