15 States Recognized as Best in the Nation for Using Evidence and Data to Deliver Better Results

15 States Recognized as Best in the Nation for Using Evidence and Data to Deliver Better Results

California, Colorado, Maryland, Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio, Rhode Island and Tennessee earn the highest honor. Connecticut, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Utah also recognized as leading states.

Media Contact: Adam Peck, email: [email protected] or text/call: (914) 874-7887

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Results for America released the 2026 Invest in What Works State Standard of Excellence, recognizing 15 states as the best in the nation at using evidence and data to deliver better results for residents.

The State Standard includes three tiers of certification. The awarded states, by level, are:

• Platinum: California, Colorado, Maryland, Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio, Rhode Island, Tennessee
• Gold: North Carolina, Oregon
• Silver: Connecticut, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Utah

The State Standard assesses how states are increasing the impact of taxpayer dollars, focusing on the budgeting, grantmaking and service delivery systems that are critical for effective government. These 15 states have increasingly invested in evidence-based solutions that directly improve residents’ lives – expanding early childhood education, improving mental health outcomes, reducing recidivism and addressing other urgent challenges facing their communities.

Six states leveled up from last year, making significant improvements to how they invest public resources. California, Maryland, New Mexico, Ohio and Rhode Island advanced to Platinum, while Oregon advanced to Gold. These states made their budget and grant-making systems even stronger by setting measurable goals, directing more funding to evidence-based programs and actively tracking whether public investments are delivering results.

“It’s an honor for Minnesota to be recognized as a national leader in evidence-based decision making,” said Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D). “By using data to inform our decisions we ensure we are investing state dollars in services that work for Minnesotans.”

“We are honored to be recognized by Results for America as a Platinum-Certified State in the 2026 Invest in What Works State Standard of Excellence,” said Tennessee Governor Bill Lee (R). “This distinction reflects our steadfast commitment to using evidence and data to guide decisions, steward resources responsibly, and deliver the best outcomes for Tennesseans.”

“Receiving this honor for the fourth year in a row is a testament to our incredible staff, our dedicated committee members, and our shared commitment to a strategic and transparent budgeting process,” said New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee’s Chairman Representative Nathan Small (D). “At a time when many states have been forced to make tough cuts, New Mexico’s smart budgeting and thoughtful investing have allowed us to maintain and responsibly grow our investments in key areas of need, while continuing to save for the future.”

“Every budget decision has to be evaluated on whether it should grow, be maintained, or be restrained based on evidence and outcomes, not assumptions. That’s how we make sure taxpayer dollars are producing safer communities, stronger schools, better healthcare, and an economy that creates opportunity for every New Mexican,” said New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee’s Vice-Chair Senator George Muñoz (D). “This recognition from Results for America is a testament to the professionalism and dedication of the LFC staff. Their commitment to rigorous analysis and accountability helps ensure New Mexico continues making smart investments that position our state to win. Congratulations to the entire team on this well-deserved honor.”

“Ohio is the Heart of it All, and success is no accident here,” said Governor Mike DeWine (R). “We have worked to incorporate new ideas, data, and transparency, and then evaluate their effectiveness to get the best results for our citizens.  I am proud that Ohio is being recognized as a top, Platinum-certified state by Results for America, on the heels of also being recognized as the top state for business and as the best state park system in the country. We’re shining a light on our achievements while maintaining our momentum so Ohio will continue to be the best state to live, work, and play.”

“The Moore-Miller administration brings a data-driven and heart-led approach to everything we do. We are proud to be recognized by Results for America once again for our strategic investments that deliver real results for Marylanders,” said Governor Wes Moore (D). “We remain committed to responsibly stewarding taxpayer dollars and driving proven outcomes for hardworking families across Maryland.”

“Utah government should work the same way Utahns do: set clear goals, measure results and be willing to change course when something isn’t working,” said Governor Spencer Cox (R). “We owe taxpayers that accountability, and we owe Utah families programs that make a real difference in their lives. This recognition reflects the dedicated public servants across our state who continue to raise the bar.”

“Budget numbers change yearly, but what remains is Utah’s desire to make the highest and best use of taxpayer dollars,” said Sophia DiCaro, Executive Director of Utah’s Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget. “We will continue to innovate and identify investments that empower our people to produce positive outcomes and help our state succeed.”

“We take very seriously our responsibility to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars,” said Governor Josh Stein (D). “I am proud that our work to measure outcomes, learn from the evidence, and invest in what works has earned this recognition, but I’m even prouder of how it will improve North Carolinians’ lives. My administration will continue our daily efforts to build a stronger and more prosperous North Carolina with opportunity for every person.”

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 2026 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 evidence and data to deliver better results for their residents.

Why It Matters

As states face tighter budgets, using evidence to guide spending is increasingly important. Without clear priorities, governments often resort to across-the-board cuts that can weaken high-impact programs while preserving less effective ones. The 2026 Invest in What Works State Standard of Excellence highlights states making significant changes to ensure public dollars support programs that deliver results. Maryland and New Mexico recently established evidence-based budgeting targets to increase investment in proven programs, while Ohio is investing in a growing number of evidence-based programs . These shifts strengthen budget processes, make spending decisions more transparent and help states direct limited resources toward what works.

Visit to explore the full 2026 State Standard of Excellence, including state examples and real-world stories of evidence in action.

Evidence in Action

Our Invest in What Works State Standard of Excellence focuses on three crucial levers for evidence-based decision-making — budgeting, grantmaking and direct services.

Investing in What Works Through Budgeting
Maryland and New Mexico are recognized for their leadership in developing and implementing their evidence-based budgeting systems to improve outcomes for their residents. These two states are the first in the nation to complete all five evidence-based budgeting action steps outlined in Results for America’s evidence-based budgeting guide.

• Maryland is leading with transparency and accountability by including evidence indicators in the Governor’s FY 2027 Budget Highlights and summarizing FY 2027 enacted budget items that support evidence-based interventions. Additionally, Maryland incorporates evidence-based criteria within the State’s internal budget processes by requiring that any over the target enhancement requests are considered an evidence-based or evidence-building program, thereby driving state funds toward programs that deliver measurable results.
• New Mexico is advancing evidence-based policymaking by requiring agencies to justify budget expansion requests with evidence information and setting a target that at least 75 percent of programmatic spending be directed toward evidence-based programs for agencies participating in Program Inventories for Values, Outcomes and Transparency (PIVOT). Under the Accountability in Government Act, the state defines tiers of evidence and integrates them into budget guidance. The Legislative Finance Committee enhances transparency by publishing post-session reviews that track evidence-based items signed into law or vetoed, ensuring lawmakers and the public can see how evidence is shaping policy decisions.

Investing in What Works Through Direct Services
Across 14 states, a total of over $18 billion has been dedicated to evidence-based direct services, demonstrating bipartisan support for outcomes-focused government programs. Minnesota and Ohio are recognized for being leaders in evidence-based direct services to improve outcomes for their residents.

• Minnesota committed over $5 billion over three years to evidence-based programs supporting children and families. This includes $882 million invested in Universal School Meals to provide free school meals for students, and $387 million in the Child Care Assistance Program to improve affordability and supply of child care.
• Ohio allocated over $2 billion over three years to 17 evidence-based programs, including early childhood, behavioral health, human services and public safety. This includes funding for the Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation program to prevent youth from smoking and help adults improve health outcomes by helping them stop using tobacco and nicotine products.

Investing in What Works Through Grantmaking
Rhode Island and Tennessee are two states leading the way in evidence-based grantmaking, increasingly investing in programs proven to yield positive outcomes.

• Rhode Island recently approved the first statewide evidence-based competitive grantmaking policy in the country. Applying to executive branch solicitations of $500,000 or more, the policy requires agencies to define evidence using the Rhode Island Evidence Scale, ask applicants to document their evidence, and prioritize those interventions in scoring. With this policy, Rhode Island moved from isolated evidence-based grant programs to a systematic, statewide approach. This will help the state be clearer about what they are funding, why they believe it will work, and how they will learn from the results. Even more importantly, we expect this policy will lead to better outcomes for Rhode Islanders.
• Tennessee committed over $550 million across 6 evidence-based programs over three years, including for the State AmeriCorps grant program administered by Volunteer Tennessee and Community Grants administered by the Tennessee Opioid Abatement Council to combat the opioid epidemic.

More examples of evidence-based grants can be found in our State Evidence-Based Grantmaking Guide.