671. Shift 1 — Metrics With Meaning: Make Better Decisions With Less Noise - Ori Carmel
Listen to this episode
This episode is part of 12 Shifts in 2026 for Social Impact.
Overview
Feeling buried under dashboards and drowning in data? You’re not alone, and there is a better way.
In this episode, Jon and Becky welcome back impact measurement expert Ori Carmel for a refreshingly honest conversation about shifting from “more data” to better decisions. Together, they unpack how nonprofits can move past performative reporting, reconnect with what truly matters, and focus on the metrics that actually drive mission-forward impact.
Along the way, Ori shares candid stories, practical frameworks, and even a little Pearl Jam, reminding us that impact work is as human as it is analytical. From uncovering your organization’s unique strengths to making data feel less overwhelming (and more empowering), this episode is full of clarity, wisdom, and a few good laughs.
If you’re craving less noise and more meaning in how you measure success, this one’s for you.
Learn:
Why Organizations are overwhelmed with data but lack clarity
How Metrics should drive decisions, not just report activities
Why asking better questions is crucial for effective impact measurement.
How stakeholder mapping helps organizations understand their audience better
Why Organizations need to focus on what they do best
How Data should inform decisions, not just fill reports
Why qualitative data is as important as quantitative data
How to stop chasing silver bullet solutions in data management
Exercise (Do This With Your Team This Week!)
Identify your core strengths: What are the 3 things you do best—better than anyone else, that you enjoy, create huge impact, and are uniquely positioned for? (Debate and refine as a team until answers are straightforward.)
Narrow your value proposition: Ask, "How do we focus on just these few things?" Smart, passionate teams can do many things—get specific to excel.
Test alignment for every decision: "Does this align with the 3 things we do best?" If you can’t clearly say yes, it’s a distraction—skip it to become truly effective and excellent.
“For most organizations, if you can’t show impact, eventually somebody is going to raise their hand. Once that spiral of lack of trust starts, it’s very hard to stop it.”
Episode Transcript
Download Full Episode Transcript Here
Episode Highlights
Data Reckoning in Nonprofits (02:00)
The Challenge of Impact Reporting (04:43)
Asking Better Questions (08:54)
Building Metrics with Meaning (18:36)
What to Stop Doing in Data Management (23:39)
The Importance of Stakeholder Mapping (30:28)
Powerful Quotes
“Understand yourself and then look outward. What do you do and how does it overlap with what the world needs?” -Ori Carmel
“We wanted to be really good at very few things. That has been transformational to us.” -Ori Carmel
“For a long time a lot of organizations have gotten away with performative metrics because as an industry we are still growing. We are relatively new in our modern iterations.” -Ori Carmel
“I see a lot of work out there based on peoples’ opinions. You have to match that up to what actually happened. There are gaps between what people say that they feel vs. reality. You have to find ways to close those gaps.” -Ori Carmel
“The perfect data and answers don’t exist.” -Ori Carmel
“We also, as a space, have a tendency to be incredibly academic. We call it like fall in love with the problem.” - Ori Carmel
“There’s still a lot of ambiguity around definitions of impact and which metrics should we measure.” - Ori Carmel
"Out of the massive amounts of data we have, what actually counts as information? In reality, only about 1% is truly relevant to the decision or question you’re trying to answer." - Ori Carmel
Connect with Ori
Connect with Jon
Connect with Becky
Come be part of the We Are For Good Community—totally free.
Join fellow changemakers, share takeaways from this working session, and keep collaborating in a space built for connection, inspiration, and real impact: www.weareforgoodcommunity.com
Say hi👇
LinkedIn / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube
Studio Selfie
