CEO & Co-Founder
Chair of the Board
COO & Co-Founder
Ten years ago, we started Results for America with a simple idea:
Governments that harness the power of evidence and data would make better decisions and faster progress on our toughest challenges.
Ten years later, we are seeing the results: Billions of federal dollars shifted to more effective solutions. Millions of people across the country benefiting from more results-oriented government decisions. Thousands of high-impact government leaders – at every level – delivering for residents.
For the last decade, we have helped government leaders test new strategies for using evidence and data to increase the impact of government dollars. Through this work, we have refined an approach that steers more public dollars to solutions that accelerate economic mobility.
Our mission for the next 10 years: To spread this approach far and wide. To close racial gaps and open opportunities for all. To work with leaders across the political spectrum to improve the impact of the over $2 trillion already being spent each year by governments in the United States to meet the needs of vulnerable populations and advance economic mobility.
Big solutions don’t have to be partisan or political. By investing in what works, we can help restore the public’s faith in government’s ability to tackle our most difficult problems.
CEO & Co-Founder
Chair of the Board
COO & Co-Founder
(yes, that’s billions)
Results for America and our coalition helped shift more than $22 billion in government dollars to evidence-based programs that deliver better results for residents.
Results for America and our coalition helped shape more than 50 policies and executive actions over the last decade that will deliver better results.
Results for America and our partners have trained more than 14,000 leaders and staff from City Halls, Governor’s offices, and federal, state and local agencies.
Results for America has worked with leaders in 36 states to build and use their evidence and data capacity.
Results for America has supported over 275 cities and counties in using evidence and data to address local challenges.
More than 650 bipartisan leaders and members of our coalition have committed to helping governments at every level invest in what works.
Results for America and our coalition have helped enact legislation and shaped key executive actions and policies at the federal, state and local levels, including:
Results for America and our coalition have helped enact legislation and shaped key executive actions and policies at the federal, state and local levels.
Results for America has supported federal, state and local governments to increase their investments in solutions that work.
Results for America changes the way governments invest dollars by attaching new impact requirements to the money flowing from federal to state to local governments. Through this approach, governments are incentivized to look at whether their dollars go to what works and to shift to investing in solutions that deliver better results. Then, we support government leaders to implement.
The result: More of the $2 trillion that U.S. governments spend each year to meet the needs of vulnerable populations and open opportunities go to higher-impact solutions that will improve Americans’ lives.
We are working with data-driven, results-oriented leaders in City Halls, County seats, Governor’s offices, the White House and Congress, and agencies across the country. Over the last decade, our network has expanded to include bipartisan leaders at every level of government, from every region, who are committed to delivering better results.
2012
Results for America is founded
2013
RFA launches Invest in What Works Federal Standard of Excellence
2014
“Moneyball for Government” book published, becomes national bestseller
RFA’s Local Government Fellowship created
2015
President Obama signs bipartisan Every Student Succeeds Act, which includes key evidence provisions
RFA partners with Bloomberg Philanthropies to launch What Works Cities initiative
2016
Congress passes bipartisan law creating the U.S. Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking
RFA launches Evidence in Education Lab, Nonprofit Fellows program, What Works Media Project and Results for All initiative
2017
What Works Cities Summit in New York City draws nearly 300 Mayors, city leaders and experts
2018
Inaugural group of 9 cities achieve What Works Cities Certification
Invest in What Works State Standard of Excellence launched
2019
Bipartisan Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act signed into law
RFA announces the Evidence in Workforce Lab, the Economic Mobility Initiative and the Providence Talks replication initiative
2020
RFA launches the Economic Mobility Catalog, EdResearch for Recovery Project and City Budgeting for Equity and Recovery program
2021
50 U.S. cities achieve What Works Cities Certification
8 Leading States and 4 Honor Roll states recognized for their use of evidence and data
9 Federal agencies certified at the Gold, Silver or Bronze level
2022
RFA releases American Rescue Plan Data & Evidence Dashboard based on data from 200+ local, state, and tribal governments
RFA expands reach to more than 275 cities and counties, with new initiatives including the Good Jobs and Equity Project, the Solutions Accelerator and the ARP Initiative
“AmeriCorps has been recognized for outstanding performance in using evidence and data to invest federal resources in programs that work…[W]e will continue to support grantees and other supported programs with their evidence-building activities”
The Impact
This shift helped Minnesota Reading Corps – which improves reading skills for K-3rd grade students, according to multiple rigorous studies – receive $7 million more from AmeriCorps over five years. The program was able to add 400 more tutors and serve 6,000 more students.
The Impact
This shift helped Minnesota Reading Corps – which improves reading skills for K-3rd grade students, according to multiple rigorous studies – receive $7 million more from AmeriCorps over five years. The program was able to add 400 more tutors and serve 6,000 more students.
The Impact
In one school – Grass Valley Elementary School in Winnemucca, Nevada – this shift to evidence-based interventions nearly doubled the number of 3rd graders who were proficient in reading in a single year.
The Impact
In one school – Grass Valley Elementary School in Winnemucca, Nevada – this shift to evidence-based interventions nearly doubled the number of 3rd graders who were proficient in reading in a single year.
“Data tells a story that you cannot deny.”
Victoria Woodards
Mayor of Tacoma, WA
In 2020, Results for America led a “Solutions Sprint” for 22 cities that wanted to learn more about how to implement a “guaranteed income” program. A rigorous evaluation of Stockton, CA’s program – which provided monthly cash transfers to struggling residents – found that recipients were twice as likely as non-recipients to find full-time employment, while also experiencing other benefits, such as reduced depression and anxiety.
The Impact
After the seven-week Sprint, half of the cities (11 cities) launched or announced plans to launch Guaranteed Income pilots. Tacoma (WA) Mayor Victoria Woodards said the Sprint helped her city secure $500,000 in additional funding and “develop a successful pilot…[and] implement the program in an accelerated fashion.”
In 2020, Results for America led a “Solutions Sprint” for 22 cities that wanted to learn more about how to implement a “guaranteed income” program. A rigorous evaluation of Stockton, CA’s program – which provided monthly cash transfers to struggling residents – found that recipients were twice as likely as non-recipients to find full-time employment, while also experiencing other benefits, such as reduced depression and anxiety.
The Impact
After the seven-week Sprint, half of the cities (11 cities) launched or announced plans to launch Guaranteed Income pilots. Tacoma (WA) Mayor Victoria Woodards said the Sprint helped her city secure $500,000 in additional funding and “develop a successful pilot…[and] implement the program in an accelerated fashion.”
“Data tells a story that you cannot deny.”
Victoria Woodards
Mayor of Tacoma, WA
For decades, Racine had one of the highest unemployment rates in Wisconsin, as well as low educational attainment rates, with roughly one in five adult residents lacking a high school diploma or equivalent. In 2019, the city was selected to participate in Results for America’s What Works Cities Economic Mobility Initiative, designed to help Mayors test strategies and work more closely with community partners to increase economic mobility.
The Impact
Racine’s High School Equivalency Diploma program – led by YWCA Southeast Wisconsin – had generated strong results but was serving only a small number of participants. With the added capacity, the city expanded the program, added community partners and secured additional federal and state grants. Over 400 students have now completed the program – with 80% having graduated and earned workforce readiness certificates – positioning themselves for better wages and higher quality jobs.
“We want to say to those adults, ‘We believe in you. It’s not too late for your education, and we want to help you get that so you can get on a path to getting into these jobs.’”
For decades, Racine had one of the highest unemployment rates in Wisconsin, as well as low educational attainment rates, with roughly one in five adult residents lacking a high school diploma or equivalent. In 2019, the city was selected to participate in Results for America’s What Works Cities Economic Mobility Initiative, designed to help Mayors test strategies and work more closely with community partners to increase economic mobility.
The Impact
Racine’s High School Equivalency Diploma program – led by YWCA Southeast Wisconsin – had generated strong results but was serving only a small number of participants. With the added capacity, the city expanded the program, added community partners and secured additional federal and state grants. Over 400 students have now completed the program – with 80% having graduated and earned workforce readiness certificates – positioning themselves for better wages and higher quality jobs.
“We want to say to those adults, ‘We believe in you. It’s not too late for your education, and we want to help you get that so you can get on a path to getting into these jobs.’”
Results for America does three things at the federal, state and local levels of government:
Establishes standards of excellence – a “north star” for what results-oriented government looks like
Provides implementation support to help government leaders improve results
Creates external motivation to celebrate and reward their progress
Our Standards of Excellence help governments benchmark their existing data and evidence capacity and provide a roadmap for how to accelerate their progress and deliver better results.
As of early 2022, Results for America has recognized:
Our Implementation Support includes technical assistance, individual coaching, multi-year Fellowships, boot camps, peer networks, solutions sprints, case studies, policy reports and roadmaps – as well as providing model legislative and administrative language to help governments invest in what works.
Over the last decade, we’ve had:
participants at our Solutions Sprints
reports, briefs, roadmaps and case studies
“We are building the capacity in local government to innovate and test new approaches to solving intractable problems. This approach gives us the freedom to try something new and evaluate it before we make major investments. If it works, we scale up; if not, we adjust our approach and test again.”
Mayor G.T. Bynum, R-Tulsa
a former Results for America Local Government Fellow who now leads a What Works Certified CityOur Strategic Communications and Mobilization Efforts help build momentum for change in government by motivating and celebrating policymakers who are investing in what works.
Over the next decade, we will broadly spread our tested approach so that investing in what works becomes the “new normal” in government.
Data-driven decision making will no longer be optional or an outlier. It will be standard operating procedure. Government decision-makers will expect to see data and regularly use evidence of impact to make their funding and policy decisions. And this will change the way we solve social problems in America.
Government is the largest funder of solutions to open economic opportunities. By changing the way government funding flows and incentivizing results, decision making changes for the better. This is a powerful, systemic transformation that will improve Americans’ lives for decades to come.
10
Over the next decade, we will broadly spread our tested approach so that investing in what works becomes the “new normal” in government.
Data-driven decision making will no longer be optional or an outlier. It will be standard operating procedure. Government decision-makers will expect to see data and regularly use evidence of impact to make their funding and policy decisions. And this will change the way we solve social problems in America.
Government is the largest funder of solutions to open economic opportunities. By changing the way government funding flows and incentivizing results, decision making changes for the better. This is a powerful, systemic transformation that will improve Americans’ lives for decades to come.
10
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Results for America’s strength is our team.
We have decades of experience in government. We know what it takes to change government leaders’ behavior because we have walked in their shoes.
We thank all the unseen heroes in government who are working every day to deliver better results for the people they serve. Now more than ever.
We are grateful to all of our Board Members, friends and supporters, Advisory Committee members, current and former Senior Fellows, current and alumni Fellows, Moneyball for Government All-Stars, and partners in the Invest in What Works Coalition who have helped drive this progress.
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Arnold Ventures
Ballmer Group
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Bloomberg Philanthropies
Blue Meridian Partners
Chan Zuckerberg Initiative
The Edna McConnell Clark Foundation
The Families & Workers Fund
The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
George Kaiser Family Foundation
The Kresge Foundation
MacKenzie Scott and Dan Jewett
The Morino Institute
Nielsen Foundation
Open Society Foundations
Overdeck Family Foundation
S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation
Schmidt Futures
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Sorenson Impact Center
Strada Education Network
William T. Grant Foundation
