Five essential practices for how to measure impact.
The Common Foundations outline five essential practices that form a minimum standard for effective impact measurement. This isn’t about overhauling your current processes; most organizations already employ these practices. If you’re already measuring impact, you’ll likely find that aligning with the Common Foundations requires minimal additional time or resources. If you’re new to impact measurement, consider if it’s the right step for your organization.
Simply put, if all five practices are in place, your impact measurement process is “good enough” to be effective.
A fundamental step for any impact measurement approach is clearly defining the change you aim to create. This description must explain how and why your work will lead to this change. It can be a simple paragraph, often called an impact thesis, or a more structured diagram like a theory of change, outcomes map, or logic model.
Indicators are vital tools for assessing your progress. They help you measure how effectively you’ve carried out your work and what specific effects your efforts have had.
Information collection should be useful, not burdensome. It should provide valuable insights without overwhelming your organization or those from whom you collect data. The goal is to gather information that helps you improve your work and demonstrate tangible progress.
To truly understand your impact, you need to assemble and analyze the data you’ve collected. This analysis is crucial for gaining insights into what’s working and how well your initiatives are performing.
Collecting data is only half the battle; effectively communicating and utilizing your findings is equally important. “Using” results can mean many things: informing decisions, fostering learning, driving improvements, or inspiring action. Ensure your communications clearly explain how you arrived at your conclusions.