How do you measure your cause’s success?  As an endurance athlete I occasionally enter a race and gain immediate feedback on my level of fitness.  What is the equivalent for the social sector?  Is it dollars raises at a gala?  Number of members? Total program attendees?  Size of your annual budget?  Ratio of funds raised to operational costs?  Your annual report versus another organization?  The number of mentions in the paper or on the internet?  How many people are clambering to join your board?  How many members of the community will recommend your cause?

I am not sure what the appropriate fitness test is but I imagine we all have an idea.