Robert M Penna

Robert M. Penna, Ph.D. is a nationally recognized expert on nonprofit performance and outcomes measurement. Based in Wilmington, North Carolina, Robert has spent decades helping organizations translate mission into measurable, sustainable impact. is career spans public service, international consulting, and thought leadership in the outcomes space.
A native of the Bronx, Robert earned his Ph.D. from Boston University and went on to serve in senior roles with the New York State Senate for 13 years. Following his time in government, he became a trusted advisor to nonprofit organizations worldwide, including a five-year tenure with Charity Navigator-America's leading nonprofit evaluator-and as an outcomes consultant for the World Scout Bureau.
Robert's work has reached global institutions such as the United Nations, where he led a team that developed a prototype for the UN's Programme Performance Report. He is also the author of two widely respected books: The Nonprofit Outcomes Toolbox, an award-winning guide to outcomes measurement in the sector, and Braided Threads, a historical overview of the American nonprofit movement.
Today, Robert resides in Wilmington with his wife Elise. He remains deeply engaged in the local community, contributing op-eds to the Wilmington Star-News and serving as a merit badge counselor for the Cape Fear Council of the Boy Scouts of America. His insights continue to shape how mission-driven organizations define, track, and achieve outcomes that matter.