How to turn grant data into meaningful reports using the Outcomes Engine

Tracking the outcomes of grant programs is complex. While individual grant reports provide valuable details, pulling everything together to provide a clear, big-picture view is challenging.

That’s where the SmartyGrants Outcomes Engine comes in. It helps grantmakers track and report on the results of their funding, making it easier to understand what has been achieved and where to focus next.

To demonstrate the Outcomes Engine’s capabilities, we used it to create a mock grant report for Goodtown Council (a fictitious local council). The report shows how grant data can be translated into a well-structured, easy-to-read summary for councils, community members and funders.

Bringing lots of data together

In 2020, Goodtown Council provided $2.9 million in funding across five areas:

• arts and culture

• community development

• economic growth

• environmental initiatives

• health and well-being.

Using the SmartyGrants Outcomes Engine, the council combined grant program data –including funding amounts, participant numbers, and key achievements – into a single report. This process enabled council to identify trends, compare results across programs, and plan future funding with more confidence.

Making interpretation easier

The Goodtown Council grant program report shows how automated reporting can make interpretation of funding data easier. All the report’s charts, graphs and summaries were generated using SmartyGrants’ built-in reporting tools, turning raw data into a clear, well-organised overview.

Highlights:

• 81 artists funded, with 4,493 people attending cultural events

• 403 volunteers engaged, contributing 9¾ hours per person

• 6 new businesses launched with council support

• 2,160 trees planted, improving green spaces

• 6,502 residents participated in sports and recreation programs

The Outcomes Engine automatically groups data by key themes or domains, ensuring funders can see what has been achieved in different areas and adjust funding strategies accordingly.

Telling a story with data

A good grant report is not just about numbers – it’s about telling the story of how funding has supported the community. To make the data more accessible, Goodtown Council’s grants officer combined SmartyGrants’ automated reporting with Canva’s design tools to produce a professional, visually appealing document. View the report here.

The report shows how councils can communicate funding results in a way that is easy to understand and act on by using:

• dynamic data visualisations (auto-generated charts and graphs)

• grantee feedback (quotes and real experiences)

• concise program summaries (clear takeaways for decision-makers).

A smarter approach to grant reporting

The Goodtown Council’s report is just one example of the way SmartyGrants can help councils and funding bodies turn grant program data into meaningful insights. The Outcomes Engine makes it possible to:

• see the full picture of funding outcomes

• make evidence-based decisions

• improve reporting to funders, councils, and communities.

If your team wants to move beyond spreadsheets and create clear, structured reports, the SmartyGrants Outcomes Engine is here to help.

Get in touch today to explore how you can streamline your grant reporting.