How do you track your non-profit's social impact?

1 Define your impact goals

The first step to track your social impact is to define what you want to achieve and how you will measure it. Your impact goals should be aligned with your mission, vision, and theory of change, and should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). For example, if your non-profit aims to reduce poverty in a certain region, your impact goal could be to increase the income of 10,000 households by 20% in three years. You should also identify the indicators that will show your progress and impact, such as the number of households reached, the average income change, and the satisfaction level of the beneficiaries.

2 Choose your impact methods

The next step is to choose the methods that will help you collect and analyze the data for your indicators. There are various methods and tools available for measuring social impact, such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, case studies, experiments, and software. You should select the methods that are appropriate for your context, budget, and capacity, and that can provide reliable, valid, and relevant data. You should also consider the ethical and practical issues involved in collecting and handling data, such as informed consent, data protection, and data quality.

3 Collect and analyze your impact data

The third step is to collect and analyze your data according to your methods and indicators. You should plan and schedule your data collection activities, such as designing and testing your instruments, recruiting and training your staff or volunteers, and conducting and recording your data collection. You should also organize and process your data, such as cleaning, coding, and storing your data, and applying statistical or qualitative techniques to analyze your data. You should check for any errors, gaps, or biases in your data, and interpret your findings with caution and context.

4 Communicate and use your impact results

The final step is to communicate and use your results to inform your decisions and actions. You should prepare and present your results in a clear, concise, and compelling way, using visual aids, stories, and summaries. You should tailor your communication to your different audiences, such as donors, beneficiaries, partners, and policymakers, and highlight your achievements, challenges, and learnings. You should also use your results to improve your programs and strategies, such as identifying what works and what doesn't, adjusting your goals and methods, and scaling up or replicating your impact.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?