SUPPORTS
Impact Measurement
Where do participants access the Core 2020 surveys?
Participants may access the surveys through their Mighty Networks accounts or through the direct links included in the reminder emails.
What do I do if my organization needs to collect additional information from participants that’s not on the surveys?
Member organizations are free to supplement CO.STARTERS surveys with any additional data collection techniques; we recommend collecting additional information through an application form.
What is the ideal response rate for a strong cohort report?
This depends on the size of your cohort and how reliable you want your impact data to be. Smaller cohorts will need higher response rates to ensure reliable data. However, >60% is a good target [...]
How does CO.STARTERS prompt participants to complete surveys?
We send at least three reminder emails before exporting the survey data for analysis and reporting purposes. We allow at least two weeks for participants to complete each survey.
In addition to the cohort report, does CO.STARTERS share the raw data?
Yes, we will share links to both a PDF of your cohort report and a spreadsheet with raw survey data, individual signifiers removed.
How quickly will I get my cohort report?
Cohort reports are made available 2-4 weeks after a cohort ends. Cohort reports do take time to prepare, but the speed with which your participants answer surveys is the largest factor determining how quickly you [...]
Why should I use CO.STARTERS surveys?
Chances are that all or some of your organization’s work is funded by grant money. Anyone who has applied for a grant knows how helpful impact data can be when persuading a potential funder. This [...]
How does CO.STARTERS use the data it collects?
All data collected by CO.STARTERS is reported in the aggregate to member organizations. Any testimonials gathered are attributed to first names or initials only when shared. CO.STARTERS does use individual signifiers (registrant IDs or email [...]
What sort of data are you collecting?
Through our participant surveys, we collect data concerning personal demographics, information about participants’ businesses (including employment and revenue-related metrics), skill/confidence growth through the program, and testimonials.
What is Mighty Networks?
Mighty Networks is an online community education platform that is used as a support tool for the CO.STARTERS cohort-based programs.. This platform not only provides participants with additional program-related resources, it also allows for [...]
Why do the surveys ask the questions they ask?
The questions we ask are data points that many funders look for when determining whether to fund a program and how effective it has been in a community. It’s how we tell the impact [...]
How is the data collected through the impact measurement system used?
The data is used to help you understand how your local programs are working, as well as integrated with everyone else’s data to give us a pulse of the CO.STARTERS community as a whole. We [...]
Why should we use the impact measurement system?
You will know who is in your programs and how you’ve helped them. You’ll know how CO.STARTERS programs are being effective in your community. You’ll have the concrete data on both activities and outcomes that [...]
Is the impact measurement system mandatory?
The system works best for all of us if everyone uses it. We strongly recommend using it because it will help you: know who is in your programs and how you've helped them. know how [...]
What do we need to do as an organization for the impact measurement system to be helpful?
The more priority and support you give this, the better the information we’ll be able to provide. We count on you to remind, encourage, and incentivize your participants to complete the surveys. You may even [...]