As public and private funders have focused on evaluating the effectiveness of workforce development programs, a myriad of data collection systems and reporting processes have taken shape. Navigating these systems takes significant time and energy and often saps frontline providers' capacity to use data internally for program improvement. Furthermore, given the fragmentation of the workforce development system, it is difficult for funders, policymakers and practitioners to discern what outcomes actually constitute "good" performance. In 2004, to response to these interrelated challenges, the Public/Private Ventures (P/PV) developed The Benchmarking Project with support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The projects long-term goal is to identify realistic performance standards for programs in the workforce development field, using a tool that allows similar organizations to compare their job placement and retention outcomes. The project is also creating a learning community, using both the data collected and the experiences of participating organizations to discern effective program strategies. "Putting Data to Work: Interim Recommendations from the Benchmarking Project" draws on data submitted by more than 200 programs from around the country, as well as P/PV's work with program staff, to shed light on the challenges faced by service providers as they attempt to understand and improve their outcomes. The brief outlines five specific recommendations for public and private funders about how they can better support a culture of learning and continuous improvement across the entire workforce system. (Contains 2 tables and 8 endnotes.)