Our Collective Impact
How is Change Measured?
The Iowa Food System Coalition (IFSC) is committed to transforming Iowa’s food system through collaborative efforts guided by our food system plan, Setting the Table for All Iowans. To ensure our work is impactful and measurable, we have developed an outcome evaluation plan, co-created with the Coalition’s nine priority teams. This plan helps track progress and assess how well we are achieving our goals to strengthen local and regional food systems.
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The outcomes below reflect key areas where we aim to make significant progress. These outcomes serve as benchmarks to guide the Coalition’s internal work, demonstrate impact to our partners, and ensure that we are advancing a more resilient, equitable food system for all Iowans.
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Indicator 1.1: Increase in financial resources leveraged by the Coalition.
Indicator 1.2: Increase storage capacity, aggregation and distribution at various points along the food chain.
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Indicator 2.1: Increased state investment in local food and farm businesses.
Indicator 2.2: Increased resilience and sustainability of local food and farm businesses.
Indicator 2.3: Increased farm business sales through direct to consumer and wholesale channels.
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Indicator 3.1: Increased number of land seekers and landowners who are supported with guidance and pathway support to make land connections.
Indicator 3.2: Increased number of individuals who are supported with guidance and pathway support to access land and other essential resources for viable farm business.
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Indicator 4.1: Increased number of businesses and institutions procuring local foods.
Indicator 4.2: Increase local food processing opportunities.
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Indicator 5.1: Increased funding allocations to incentivize sourcing by local food for pantries, food banks, and anti-hunger organizations.
Indicator 5.2: Increase awareness of local food challenges and opportunities among policy makers.
Indicator 5.3: Increase the number and engagement of local food policy councils and community-based food coalitions across the state.
Indicator 5.4: Improved capacity of Coalition partners to educate and advocate for policies that will advance the goals of the Coalition.
Indicator 5.5: Increased number of individuals associated with food system advocacy and attending lobby days.
Indicator 5.6: Increased number of state and local policies passed which were advocated for by IFSC partners.
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Indicator 6.1: Increased participation in Coalition.
Indicator 6.2: Increased collaboration among partners engaged in infrastructure development.
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Indicator 7.1: Increased reach of Coalition communications.
Indicator 7.2: Increase clarity of roles, expectations and collaboration across IFSC partners with regards to communicating about the Coalition and the plan.
Indicator 7.3: Coalition reaches new audiences through own and external events and activities.
