LIVE VIRTUAL WORKSHOP (OPEN-ACCESS)
BEYOND THE DOLLAR:
HOW TO MEASURE (AND PROVE) YOUR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM’S TRUE IMPACT
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
2:00 pm EST/11:00 am PST
THE VANITY METRIC TRAP
You know exactly how much money you awarded last year. But do you know what that money actually achieved?
For decades, scholarship programs have relied on "vanity metrics", including dollars awarded and number of students funded.
But in 2026, those numbers aren't enough.
Donors want to know if they’re breaking the cycle of poverty. Boards want to know the ROI on administrative costs. Staff are sitting on mountains of survey data but lack the time (or tools) to analyze it.
If you can’t prove your impact, you can’t protect your budget.
GRAB YOUR SPOT
THIS WORKSHOP WILL COVER:
How to move beyond simple activity tracking and use a logic model to map your daily resources directly to your long-term impact goals.
Ways to modernize your activity reports to measure process efficiency and volunteer satisfaction, rather than just reporting on application volume.
How to use end-of-term surveys to identify specific friction points so you can intervene.
Strategies for tracking workforce entry, salary data, and debt reduction metrics to determine if your program is driving economic mobility.
How to use secure AI tools to synthesize qualitative feedback in minutes, allowing you to spot trends without manually reading thousands of survey rows.
Methods for packaging your data into an annual report that translates complex outcomes into a clear, compelling narrative for your stakeholders.
YOUR PRESENTER
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Erika Orsulak
Founding Partner
Erika Orsulak cut her teeth in the scholarships industry by overhauling a legacy scholarship program with a team of just 1.25 staff. That experience turned her into a passionate advocate for practical evaluation. While she now focuses on leading the strategic growth of Students First Consulting, evaluation remains one of her core areas of interest and expertise. She draws on that background to help today's scholarship leaders prove their impact without blowing their budgets.