From the Executive Director

Evaluation and Measurement

     This past year, Tubman started an intensive effort to examine all services and clarify how the organization measures success for its clients. By building detailed logic models for each service area, we are building the infrastructure to retrieve a wealth of evidence-based data to demonstrate significant client and stakeholder outcomes. This is truly measuring success and it will also provide concrete evidence to support new and more effective methods of serving clients. In addition, a new Economic Impact Task Force is studying the future cost savings of investment today in violence prevention services and programs. Initially, we are analyzing relevant national studies, related research in other fields, and current economic indicators. Given family violence services at the current level of support, we hope to demonstrate long-term economic impact and costs to our community and the nation at large.

Maintaining Core Services

     While we’ve been growing some very innovative initiatives that are features in the following pages, be assured our dedicated staff work every day to serve women, children and men struggling with abuse in their lives. In just this past year, we provided immediate, direct service for more than 15,500 individuals in Washington, Ramsey and Hennepin Counties. This includes phone crisis counseling with 9,876 people, legal services for 2,004 clients in criminal and civil court, violence prevention classroom curriculum and training for 2,438 middle and high school age students, direct therapy and counseling for 202 men and women who have been abusive, and of course: safe, emergency sanctuary for 1,448 women and children in our three shelters in one year!

     We are glad more individuals feel courageous enough to seek help, but we know thousands more are too isolated or ashamed or afraid to do the same.

     We want to thank our extraordinary list of contributors and community partners, without whom we would not be able to serve our families as well as we do. Over 2, 590 supporters gave cash contributions reaching a total of $617,229 and 1,074 more gave gifts or services in kind. Finally, an amazing 577 individual volunteers and groups provided 25,793 hours of service and attention to our cause. This response more than tripled the figures from 2003. Because of such extraordinary community dedication and support, we managed with only a 6.7 percent administrative load and only 4.8 percent in fundraising costs.

     We thank everyone who has given their time, energy and resources to help the families seek and create new and safe lives.