Results for America’s 2025 ‘Invest in What Works’ Certified States, spotlights investments in data-driven solutions and programs that work. The 2025 Invest in What Works State Standard of Excellence recognized North Carolina as well as 12 other states for their increasingly bold use of data and evidence to maximize taxpayer dollars and improve lives. Through their results-driven budgeting, grantmaking and direct services, these states are expanding early childhood education opportunities, improving mental health outcomes, reducing recidivism rates, and addressing other challenges facing their communities.
“I am honored that Results for America has recognized our state as a national leader,” said Governor Stein. “We will continue innovating so that North Carolinians benefit from a government that works smarter, faster, and better for all.”
Results for America evaluates how state governments are leveraging their budgeting, grantmaking and direct services authority to invest in programs and policies with proven outcomes. The 2025 Invest in What Works State Standard of Excellence is a national standard consisting of 12 criteria that set a roadmap for how states should build and use data and evidence to deliver better results for their residents.
Learn more about the state’s efforts to drive improvements to policies and programs on North Carolina’s profile page of Results for America’s State Standards.
Why it Matters
As states face tighter budgets and the uncertainty of federal aid, the need for results-driven, evidence-based spending has never been more urgent. Without clear priorities, governments often resort to across-the-board cuts that can weaken high-impact programs while preserving less effective ones. The 2025 Invest in What Works State Standard of Excellence highlights states that are meeting this challenge head-on—using data, evidence and measurable outcome goals to align budgets with their most pressing needs.