Proven Return on Investment: Demonstrating the Impact of Allegany College of Maryland
Summary
• Despite shrinking funding pools, ACM has maintained a steady budget by using third-party data to prove the college makes a difference in the community and in students’ lives. • ACM engages current and potential donors by showing them defensible impact information that justifies investment in the college. “When you see things like the social perspective, the government’s 4.3% rate of return, and you see the students enjoying a 15% average return on their investment in under 10 years–these are the kind of numbers that stand out to our donors.” In Jones’ experience, when potential donors see clear and concise data on ACM’s impact, combined with student stories and testimonials, they realize that ACM is a sound investment. The college also uses these numbers to foster confidence in staff and faculty; it’s easier to believe in your institution’s value when there is relevant and reliable data pointing to a substantial regional impact. For example, for every dollar of state and local tax money invested in ACM today, Maryland residents will see a cumulative yield of $12.40 in benefits.