Writing Effective Impact Statements

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Writing Effective Impact Statements

• Communicating the Public Value of K-State
  Research and Extension
• Presented by
• Department of Communications
• Pat Melgares

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Why write for impact?

• It makes a difference.

• News releases print, radio, TV
• Organizational marketing
• Kansas Legislative Report
• Partners/funders/stakeholders
• Newsletters, postcards, fact sheets, displays,
  etc
• Progress reports
• Promoting your programs

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Bottom Line

• Impact helps to tell the K-State Research and
  Extension story
• Funding and other support often depends on how
  well we are able to tell others how our work
  benefits our communities (public value)

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Impact is not

• An activity report
• A list of numbers served or involved
• A description of services or processes

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Impact

• Explains accomplishments
• Explains payoff to society
• Can be understood by non-scientists

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Good impact statements

• Illustrate change or potential change in such
  areas as

• Economic value/efficiency
• Environmental quality
• Social well-being
• Health and well-being

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Simple is Good!

• Ask the So What question.

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Simple is Good!

• Ask, Who Caresand Why?

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So, Simply

• Provide only enough detail to provide context
  (keep em short)
• Highlight the public benefit, public value

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Impact Activity
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The goal within K-State Research and Extension is
to involve a representative cross-section of
residents in all planning and outreach
activities. There are, however, several specific
programs that target under-served audiences for
higher levels of involvement. These programs
address needs of economically disadvantaged
agricultural producers, youths, families, and
communities and provide knowledge, skills, and
practices where needs are great. Specific
examples of work with under-served and
under-represented groups- Extension faculty and
staff in counties surrounding Fort Riley are
collaborating to develop strategies and marketing
materials targeting military families. With an
expectation of more than 30,000 people coming to
the area, this is an opportunity to increase the
reach of extension programs to nontraditional,
underserved, and emerging audiences. It is
essential they learn about basic military
practices and procedures so that we might better
serve and partner with this new audience.-
Wyandotte County has seen a recent dramatic
increase in Latino population going from 9 to
17 of the countys population in just five
years. There is a Spanish-speaking population of
around 30,000 residents that will benefit from
the educational programs offered by establishing
a Latino community outreach program through
Wyandotte County Extension. A bilingual Family
and Consumer Sciences Extension agent hired in
2004 will continue to develop excellent
collaborations with human service agencies and
other organizations that are reaching out to this
community. - Expanded Food and Nutrition
Education Program (EFNEP) and Family Nutrition
Program (FNP) target low income and ethnically
diverse populations. EFNEP will add one agent
position in Wyandotte County as a result of
increased funding.
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Impact Statement

• The goal within K-State Research and Extension is
  to involve a representative cross-section of
  residents in all planning and outreach
  activities. There are, however, several specific
  programs that target under-served audiences for
  higher levels of involvement.
• These programs address needs of economically
  disadvantaged
• agricultural producers,
• youths,
• families, and
• communities.

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Impact Statement

• K-State Research and Extension provides
  knowledge, skills, and practices where the needs
  are great.
• Some specific examples of work with under-served
  and under-represented groups include
• Extension faculty and staff in counties
  surrounding Fort Riley are collaborating to
  develop strategies and marketing materials
  targeting military families. With an expectation
  of more than 30,000 people coming to the area,
  this is an opportunity to increase the reach of
  extension programs to nontraditional,
  underserved, and emerging audiences. It is
  essential they learn about basic military
  practices and procedures so that we might better
  serve and partner with this new audience.

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• Wyandotte County has seen a recent dramatic
  increase in Latino population going from 9 to
  17 of the countys population in just five
  years. There is a Spanish-speaking population of
  around 30,000 residents that will benefit from
  the educational programs offered by establishing
  a Latino community outreach program through
  Wyandotte County Extension.A bilingual Family
  and Consumer Sciences Extension agent hired in
  2004 will continue to develop excellent
  collaborations with human service agencies and
  other organizations that are reaching out to this
  community.
• Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program
  (EFNEP) and Family Nutrition Program (FNP) target
  low income and ethnically diverse populations.
  EFNEP will add one agent position in Wyandotte
  County as a result of increased funding.

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Focus on the important stuff

• Did this increase knowledge? For who?
• How is the knowledge being used in my community?
• What were the specific behavior or situation
  changes?

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Keys to writing

• Know your focus
• Avoid long details aim to provide understanding
  (7th grade level)
• Avoid jargon or technical terms
• Use everyday language

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Writing Tip

• Incorporate a Success Story

• A single, quantifiable example of behavior or
  other change based on something you did
• These can be powerful testimonials
• Puts a human face on the subject
• Complements your facts and figures

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Evaluate

• Did you give readers the bottom line?
• Have someone else read your impact do they
  understand what youre saying?

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Evaluate

• Did you report impact in terms of

• Knowledge gained (and how it was used)
• Behavior or attitude changes
• Changes in practices or situations
• Economic, social or environmental change

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Summary

• Simple is good
• Know your focus
• Report the bottom line
• Communicate positive change
• Write so that your impact can be understood by
  many

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Questions