making the case

Why Feedback Matters

Listening and feedback are essential because, quite simply, none of us have all the answers. We’re not experts on other people’s lives, and the best way to truly understand what’s needed is to listen.

Making change starts with learning about people’s true needs, not just what we think they need. Feedback and listening take out the guesswork and bring in clarity.

01

Feedback is The Right Thing

Listening and feedback can help support equity and inclusion by demonstrating respect for people and their opinions, recognizing their value as partners in the decision-making process.

02

Feedback is The Smart Thing

When done well, feedback and listening are essential and powerful tools that lead to better programmatic outcomes.

03

Feedback is The Feasible Thing

Feedback and listening can be incorporated by organizations big and small, thanks to easy-to-use tools that collect insights from people at scale.

01 - the right thing
Because Feedback is the Right Thing

Listening and feedback can help support equity and inclusion by demonstrating respect for people and their opinions, recognizing their value as partners in the decision-making process.

When we create space for people to share their thoughts, concerns, and ideas, we give them a voice in shaping the future. Feedback and listening shift power to communities, ensuring that people have a say in the programs and policies that affect their lives.

Feedback loops ground us in the lived experiences of the people at the heart of our work, ensuring that we create solutions that create lasting change.

02 - the right thing
Because Feedback is the Smart Thing

It’s never too late to start listening to the people at the heart of your work. When done well, feedback and listening are essential and powerful tools that lead to better programmatic outcomes.

Research shows that feedback and listening help us understand important perspectives that we might miss otherwise. What’s more, the process itself builds trust and shows people that their voices matter. When feedback is collected thoughtfully, considers biases, and focuses on what really matters, it can help predict outcomes early so that you can pivot and adjust, leading to better results for everyone involved.

Below are the experiences of three nonprofits that successfully gathered high-quality feedback to help create better outcomes:

Boys & Girls Club of the Peninsula (BGCP)

By surveying their students, BGCP learned that students’ perceptions of their afterschool program had a direct correlation to their success in school. This insight helped build stronger connections between staff and students, especially with English language learners, making their programs even better.

YouthTruth

Student feedback, collected through surveys, predicted academic and behavioral outcomes, helping schools and partners improve educational strategies, inform proposals, and strengthen their support systems moving forward.

Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO)

Using text-message surveys, CEO learned that participants’ responsiveness to text messages was linked to better employment outcomes overall. CEO utilized constructive client feedback to offer food and housing support.

03 - the feasible thing
Because Feedback is the Feasible Thing

Feedback and listening can be incorporated by organizations big and small, thanks to easy-to-use tools that collect insights from people at scale. Increasingly, foundations are funding feedback efforts, recognizing the value they bring in shaping better outcomes that make a difference.

Check out real-world examples below, and in our Feedback in Action page that illustrate how feedback and listening can make an impact and how you can build the case for incorporating feedback loops in your organizations.

Join the Conversation

Do you have a story or idea you’d like to share about how feedback makes a difference? We want to hear from you! Please send us a message.

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Our Commitment to Equity and Inclusion

At Feedback Labs, the ongoing pursuit of equity and inclusion informs every aspect of our work. Read more about our commitment to equity and inclusion in our work.

Our Commitment to Equity and Inclusion