I hear nonprofits tell me all the time, “I think our program is working. But I just don’t know how to show it!”

They weren’t alone. Many nonprofit and public-sector organizations are working incredibly hard, delivering services every day, and meeting urgent needs in their communities. And yet, when it comes time to answer a simple question of whether the organization has evidence that their program is working or not, the room gets quiet.

“We know it works. But I can’t give you any data to support that.”

This uncertainty isn’t a failure. But it is a sign it’s time for you organization to level up.

Many nonprofit leaders know what it feels like to be constantly running on empty. The pressure to do more with less. The uncertainty of whether the next grant will come through. The feeling that your organization is always one budget cycle away from falling behind.

This reality is known as the nonprofit starvation cycle. It’s what happens when organizations focus so heavily on survival that they lose sight of strategy. It leads to burnout, limited capacity, and a constant sense of scarcity.

At Common Good Data, we believe the solution isn’t to work harder — it’s to work smarter. Thriving nonprofits are guided by three essential elements: Clarity, Impact, and Funding. Together, they form what we call the CIF Framework — a simple model that helps organizations grow with confidence and purpose.

How do you maintain an impact mindset when planning programs and activities at your nonprofit? In this blog post, Drew discusses the risks of being focused on novelty over impact. He then shares three traits of impact-focused leaders, including:

1. Impactful leaders know: It’s not about them.

2. Impactful leaders have a north star.

3. Impactful leaders align what they’re good at with what the community needs.