Evaluation Framework
How we measure what matters. A transparent, data-driven approach to tracking transformation across 8 life domains.
Evidence-Informed • Outcome-DrivenEvaluation Philosophy
We believe accountability and transparency are not burdens, they are competitive advantages. We cite a source for every statistic and correct errors when we find them.
Data-Driven
Every program decision is informed by quantitative and qualitative data. We track individual progress across all 8 life domains using the Academy intake assessment.
Transparent
Full financial transparency including budget breakdowns, SROI projections, and governance controls. We speak the language of institutional funders because we believe you deserve to see where every dollar goes.
Third-Party Evaluation
Planned UMKC partnership for credit articulation and third-party program evaluation. External evaluation is designed so our outcomes reporting meets academic and institutional standards.
Measurement Timeline
A continuous evaluation cycle that tracks participant transformation from enrollment through post-graduation mentorship.
Baseline Assessment
The Academy intake assessment establishes individualized baseline scores across all 8 life domains. AI analysis identifies specific barriers ranked by urgency.
Mid-Point Check-In
6-month reassessment measures progress against baseline. Personalized pathways are adjusted based on domain-level improvements and emerging needs.
Capstone & Graduation
12-month comprehensive reassessment. Capstone project completion. Final domain scores compared against baseline to quantify total transformation.
Mentor & Multiply
Post-graduation tracking of sustained outcomes. Graduates who become mentors create a multiplier effect, extending impact into the next cohort.
2030 Outcome Targets
Measurable goals that drive every programmatic decision and guide resource allocation.
Individuals who complete the full 29-course, 8-domain curriculum
Graduates maintaining stable housing 12 months post-completion. Target set after Year 1 results.
Graduates employed or self-employed within 12 months of graduation. Benchmark: U.S. Department of Labor, WIOA Adult program: 72.3% employed in the 4th quarter after exit (PY 2024 WIOA National Performance Summary).
Graduates who become mentors. Target set after Year 1 results.
Domain-Level Metrics
Each of the 8 life domains has defined baseline indicators, intervention activities, and measurable outcomes.
| Domain | Courses | Baseline | Primary Outcome Metric |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🏠 Housing Stability™ | 4 courses (19 hrs) | 78% of extremely low-income renter households in the Kansas City metro severely cost burdened (NLIHC, 2026) | Stable housing maintained at 12 months |
| 💚 Health & Wellness™ | 4 courses (17 hrs) | 31-year life expectancy gap between Kansas City census tracts (KC Health Department, 2023) | Healthcare access and wellness score improvement |
| 💰 Economic Mobility™ | 5 courses (24 hrs) | About 6:1 wealth ratio, White to Black households, national (Federal Reserve) | $10K+ income increase within 12 months |
| 🎓 Education™ | 5 courses (22 hrs) | Kansas City 33 students 3.08 grade levels below the 2019 national average, grades 3 to 8 (Stanford Educational Opportunity Project) | Credential or certification attainment |
| 💻 Technology & AI™ | 3 courses (14 hrs) | 28.6% of Kansans in households under $20,000 without broadband (KHI, statewide) | Digital literacy and AI readiness score |
| 🏛 Civic Engagement™ | 3 courses (14 hrs) | Measured at Academy intake | Civic participation and advocacy actions |
| 🌱 Environment™ | 2 courses (8 hrs) | 22-year life expectancy gap, Armourdale vs. other parts of Wyandotte County (UCS, 2021) | Environmental health awareness and action |
| 💡 Purpose & Community™ | 2 courses (8 hrs) | Kansas ranked 18th overall (Mental Health America, 2025) | Mentorship activation and community leadership |
Data Collection Methods
Multiple data streams ensure comprehensive measurement at individual, cohort, and community levels.
Individual-Level Tracking
Academy Intake Assessment: 20-minute AI-powered intake questionnaire covering all 8 life domains
Progress Dashboards: Real-time tracking of course completion, domain scores, and milestone achievement
Reassessment Protocol: Standardized 6-month and 12-month follow-up assessments
Post-Graduation Surveys: Annual follow-up tracking sustained outcomes and mentorship activity
Cohort & Program-Level Data
Enrollment & Completion Rates: Tracking retention, graduation, and drop-off points by domain
Employment & Income Data: Pre- and post-employment status, wage changes, and career advancement
Housing Stability Records: Housing status at intake, graduation, and annual follow-up
Community Partner Reports: Referral outcomes and service utilization data from partner organizations
Financial & Impact Accounting
Cost-Per-Outcome: Calculated cost per graduate, per housing placement, per job secured
SROI Analysis: Annual social return on investment calculation with itemized value creation
Prevention Value: Cost avoidance calculations for homelessness, incarceration, and emergency services
QuickBooks Audit Trail: Full financial transparency with segregation of duties and board oversight
External Validation
Planned UMKC Third-Party Evaluation: Independent program evaluation through university research partnership
Public Data Sources: Each statistic on our Kansas City Data page names its source next to the figure
GuideStar/Candid Profile: Organizational transparency through the leading nonprofit verification platform
Annual Reporting: Published impact reports with verified data available to all stakeholders
Social Return on Investment
Our SROI methodology quantifies the social, economic, and community value created by every dollar invested.
$2.98 in modeled value per $1 invested. Projection, not measured results. Two of five unit values are sourced; the rest are internal assumptions.
Year One budget estimate for one participant to complete the 29-course, 141-hour program (projection)
Annual public cost per chronically homeless individual. Net of the $12,800 average cost of supportive housing, savings are roughly $4,800 per year, the figure our model uses. Source: National Alliance to End Homelessness, Ending Chronic Homelessness Saves Taxpayers Money(February 17, 2017).
Missouri average annual cost per incarcerated person. Source: Vera Institute of Justice, The Price of Prisons: Prison spending in 2015.
Data Governance, Privacy & Reporting
How we collect baseline data, protect participant privacy, and report results on a fixed cadence.
Baseline Data Collection Plan
At intake, every participant completes a structured baseline assessment across our core outcome domains: housing stability, income and employment, education and credentials, health and wellbeing, and financial capability. Baseline data is collected before services begin so that every later measurement is compared against a documented starting point. Intake records are stored securely and reviewed for completeness within the first 30 days of enrollment.
Participant Privacy & Consent
Participation in data collection is voluntary and based on informed, written consent. Participants are told what data is collected, how it is used, and how to withdraw. Individual records are kept confidential, stored with access limited to authorized program staff, and reported only in de-identified, aggregate form. No participant data is sold or shared with third parties for marketing. Participants may request access to or removal of their personal data by contacting info@tngcf.org.
Quarterly Reporting Cadence
TNGCF commits to reporting program metrics on a quarterly basis. Each quarter we review enrollment, retention, and domain-level progress against baseline, and we publish an annual impact summary at year end. Quarterly internal reviews inform program adjustments, and results are shared with the Board and, where applicable, with funders on the same schedule.
Accountability Structure
Multiple layers of oversight ensure program integrity, financial transparency, and outcome accuracy.
Board Governance
Once seated, the Board of Directors will provide strategic oversight with fiduciary responsibility. Once the Board is seated, Board approval will be required for expenditures exceeding $5,000. Annual conflict of interest disclosure by all board members once seated and staff once hired.
Governance Controls ActiveFinancial Controls
Dedicated nonprofit account with dual signature requirement. QuickBooks nonprofit accounting with full audit trail. Segregation of duties across receipts, disbursements, and reconciliation. 7-year document retention policy.
Dual Signature RequiredAcademic Partnership
A planned partnership with the University of Missouri – Kansas City would provide third-party program evaluation and credit articulation for Academy courses. External validation is designed so outcomes data meets research-grade standards.
PlannedWe measure transformation.
We prove impact.
We welcome scrutiny.
Zip Codes Don't Determine Destinies™