Results for America announces 2025 ‘Invest in What Works’ Certified States, spotlighting billions invested in data-driven solutions and programs that work
Media Contact: Adam Peck, email: [email protected] or text/call: (914) 874-7887
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Results for America released the 2025 Invest in What Works State Standard of Excellence, recognizing 13 leading 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 urgent challenges facing their communities.
- Platinum: Colorado, Minnesota, Tennessee
- Gold: Maryland, North Carolina, Rhode Island
- Silver: Connecticut, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah
“When it comes to our budget, we are focused on making the investments that align with what Coloradans care about most, including education and public safety, and that means using the data to protect these important investments,” said Colorado Governor Jared Polis (D). “I appreciate Results for America for recognizing this important work and we look forward to building on it to deliver for Coloradans.”
“From day one, we have followed the data and invested in the things that matter most – like funding universal school meals, paid family leave, and tax cuts for the middle class,” said Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D). “This ranking reflects what we already know: by using data and evidence to drive decision making, we’re creating solutions that benefit all Minnesotans.”
“We are proud to once again be recognized as a Platinum-Certified State by Results for America’s Invest in What Works State Standard of Excellence,” said Tennessee Governor Bill Lee (R). “This recognition affirms our commitment to using evidence and data to steward our state’s resources wisely and improve outcomes for all Tennesseans.”
“I am honored that Results for America has recognized our state as a national leader,” added North Carolina Governor Josh Stein (D). “We will continue innovating so that North Carolinians benefit from a government that works smarter, faster, and better for all.”
“I’m proud that Maryland is being recognized once again by Results for America for following the data and making smart investments that deliver tangible results for Marylanders,” said Maryland Governor Wes Moore (D). “Since taking office, our administration has been data-driven and heart-led while responsibly stewarding taxpayer dollars that have driven proven outcomes for Maryland families.”
“I am pleased that Results for America has again recognized Ohio for investing in what works,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine (R). “We are leading the way by turning data into information that we use to grow and diversify our economy, build and upskill our workforce, and protect our people and our resources.”
“Since day one, my Administration has been focused on delivering real results for the good people of Pennsylvania – and I am proud that the Commonwealth has been recognized for our work to bring people together to get stuff done,” said Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (D). “From cutting red tape in government and helping small businesses thrive to using evidence-based programs to reduce gun violence, we’re proud to make government work for Pennsylvanians across the Commonwealth – and we’re not done yet.”
“Utah measures what matters and funds what works, scaling programs that help children and families and changing course when they don’t,” said Utah Governor Spencer Cox (R). “By empowering talented Utahns to lead and prove results, we’re consistently recognized as the best-managed state.”
The 2025 Invest in What Works State Standard of Excellence also recognizes the data and evidence building progress of one Honorable Mention state: Oregon.
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.
The states featured in the 2025 Invest in What Works State Standard of Excellence invested billions of dollars in evidence-based solutions between 2022 and 2025, including Colorado ($3.4 billion), Minnesota ($3.9 billion) and Tennessee ($2.7 billion).
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. Tennessee, for example, has embedded evidence requirements into its budget instructions and scaled outcome-based investments in areas like early childhood education and workforce development. This kind of disciplined, results-driven governance ensures that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and communities receive the greatest possible benefit.
Visit to explore the full 2025 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
Minnesota and New Mexico are recognized for their leadership in developing and implementing their evidence-based budgeting systems to improve outcomes for their residents. Learn more about the five steps to evidence-based budgeting here.
- Minnesota is leading with transparency and accountability by including evidence indicators in public budget documents and summarizing legislative measures that support evidence-based interventions. Additionally, Minnesota incorporates evidence-based criteria within internal budget processes, ensuring state funds go toward programs that deliver measurable impact.
- New Mexico is advancing evidence-based policymaking by requiring agencies to justify budget expansion requests with evidence information. 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 Grantmaking
Michigan and Tennessee are leading the way in evidence-based grantmaking, increasingly investing in programs proven to yield positive outcomes.
- Michigan: Allocated $2 billion over three years to the Great Start Readiness Program, which provides high-quality, evidence-based preschool opportunities that have demonstrated substantial developmental benefits for children.
- Tennessee: Committed $525 million across six programs over three years, including for Evidence-Based Programming for local jails to support re-entry services for convicted felon inmates. Grantees are required to implement programs rated as highest or second-highest in the Results First Clearinghouse Database, ensuring funding prioritizes strategies proven to reduce recidivism and promote post-incarceration success.
- More examples of evidence-based grants can be found in our Honor Roll of State Grant Programs that Define and Prioritize Evidence of Effectiveness.
Investing in What Works Through Direct Services
Across 15 states, a total of over $13 billion has been dedicated to evidence-based direct services, demonstrating bipartisan support for outcomes-focused government programs. Colorado, Minnesota and Tennessee are recognized for having the highest state investments in evidence-based direct services to improve outcomes for their residents.
- Colorado: Allocated over $3.3 billion over three years to 35 programs, including early childhood, behavioral health, human services and higher education. This includes $649.7 million invested in evidence-based Universal Preschool, ensuring broad early learning access statewide, and $319.9 million invested in Colorado Works to provide direct financial support to low-income families.
- Minnesota: Committed over $3.7 billion over three years to evidence-based programs supporting children and families. This includes $559 million invested in Universal School Meals to provide free school meals for students, and $297 million in the Child Care Assistance Program to improve affordability and supply of child care.
- Tennessee: Invested over $2.3 billion over three years in evidence-backed services across mental health, education and corrections. This includes $883 million in Home and Community-Based Services to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and $344 million in the Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship: Hope to help students pay for tuition and fees.
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