As we encounter popular, visible fundraisers, such as this week’s American Idol: Idol Gives Back, we must not forget the importance of measurement in the effectiveness of an organization.  Many people and viewers alike assume an organization is credible, and therefore effective, because they see it on TV or because it is advocated by a celebrity (or talked about in today's NYT). Although these organizations often are able to raise significant funds due to visibility, unfortunately, it is not often the case that they are better just because they are bigger or flashier.

Through our own research, we've found that the organizations supported by this year’s Idol Gives Back represent reputable and moderately effective organizations. But although they are decently efficient at raising as well as allocating funds as compared to other organizations in the space - we must not take this as the norm, we as donors must still be careful to investigate before we pledge money to a cause.  We must seek out organizations using measurement tools to evaluate programs because as with any nonprofit, measurement will only help enhance the good the organization is already doing and help ensure that the organization will meet is goals and ideals.

As donors, we must be smarter than to take tear jerking stories as proof that an organization is using funds as wisely as it should. If we hold these organizations accountable, ask them what they are using the money to do, ask them to show us their measurement system and proof that the programs are working, out money will be better spent.  As a society, if we continue to give blindly, to donate based on photo montages of hungry children we see on TV, we will continue to idle if not take a step backward.  But if we do our homework as donors and support the organizations who are measuring their efforts and relating them to their outcomes, increasing their effectiveness and making the most social change, we will advance the mission of the organization and thus improve the society in which we live.

In a time when hundreds of thousands of nonprofits are asking for support, we must take our job as donors seriously.  We must demand transparency from the social programs we care about both in our communities and across the airwaves in order to foster the effectiveness that will benefit those causes that need it most.

American Idol, Idol Gives Back, measurement, nonprofit, effectiveness, transparency, donors