A guide to social impact measurement

Social Ventures Australia (SVA) has published a practical guide to help organizations measure their social impact effectively. This guide is designed for anyone looking to improve or start their social impact measurement efforts, whether you're new to the process or looking to refine an existing system.

The guide is divided into three main sections: Design, Measure & Evaluate, and Act (or Learn), each providing useful tools and insights for better outcomes management.

1. Design: Setting Up for Success

The first step in measuring social impact is setting a strong foundation. SVA shares practical advice for developing a strategy to measure social outcomes, including:

• How to adopt an outcomes-focused approach: A step-by-step guide to help organizations define and manage their impact.
• Golden Thread methodology: A tool to clearly connect activities to desired outcomes, ensuring all actions lead to meaningful impact.
• Avoiding common mistakes: Insights on the top pitfalls to avoid when establishing outcomes measurement systems.

2. Measure & Evaluate: Turning Data into Action

Once the design is in place, organizations need to collect data and evaluate their impact. SVA offers examples of how different tools and frameworks can be used, including:

• Social Return on Investment (SROI): Guidance on how to use the SROI framework without needing a full report, making it more accessible.
• Innovative measurement approaches: An example from Indigenous Business Australia shows how a transparent, affordable impact measurement system can be developed.
• Indigenous self-determination in evaluation: Advice on how to consider Indigenous perspectives in evaluating programs that affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

3. Act (or Learn): Evolving and Improving

The final section focuses on learning from your measurements and evolving your approach. Key takeaways include:

• Managing to outcomes: SVA explains how organizations of all sizes can focus on outcomes to improve their impact.
• Cultural insights: Case studies from Te Whānau O Waipareira highlight the importance of building a culture around outcomes measurement, especially when working with specific communities.
• Extended benefits of SROI: SVA discusses how organizations can gain additional insights from SROI analysis when done strategically.

Key Takeaways

• SVA's guide emphasizes that measuring social impact is a continuous learning process. It provides clear, actionable advice for setting up, evaluating, and improving outcomes measurement systems. By following this guide, organizations can ensure they’re making a real difference and continuously improving their impact over time.
• This guide is a must-read for anyone in the social sector looking to refine their approach to measuring and demonstrating the impact of their work.