Introduction to measuring impact

Learn how to capture the correct impact data, interpret it and use it to show what you have achieved and improve your chances of future funding.
IMPACT measurement can be your best new friend when it comes to fundraising, or it could look like another task in a long line of assessment and compliance protocols. It is a question of perspective – proven money raising asset, or another timing consuming trend.
Hype aside, what is IMPACT assessment? It is the method for using proven measurement criteria to demonstrate the true benefit that charities provide to communities, end users or both. In other words, it reveals the value of what they do.
‘Continuing As We Are Is Not Going To Be The Solution To The Problems We Face’ – The Future of Charity report
The big potential of IMPACT analysis is that it is a significant and accurate demonstrator of worth. In grant funding applications, it unequivocally tells funders whether they are going to get ‘bang for their buck’. And this factor is multiplied by ‘first adopter’ status being available now, and for several years to come as the vast majority charities continue to consider adoption, rather than implement it.
The Future of Charity report by Good Innovation, concludes that without clarity on relevance, it is hard to build resonance and engagement with donors, service users and programme participants. And investigation by international service and advisory network Grant Thornton, found that insights and measurement is important to business donors and members of the public alike, with Mintel’s Charitable Giving Consumer Report 2024, revealing that a significant proportion of private donors in the UK have a strong motivation to give again when they receive updates on the true impact their donations make.
In other words, those that provide finance to charities, no matter who they are, want to be shown evidence of value for money, and the best way to demonstrate it is through IMPACT assessment. Very few charities are applying it. Those first off the starting blocks have an unquestionable advantage when it comes to fundraising. It is also worth considering the full range other benefits.
Informs Strategic Decision Making
• Identifies which programs deliver the greatest impact.
• Highlights areas needing improvement or redesign.
• Guides resource allocation for maximum benefit.
Enhances Partnerships with Businesses
• Businesses increasingly demand measurable outcomes from CSR initiatives.
• Clear evaluation data helps maintain and grow corporate relationships.
• Enables co-branding and joint marketing with validated results.
Supports Organisational Learning
• Encourages reflection and innovation based on real evidence.
• Improves efficiency by focusing on what works best.
• Builds a culture of continuous improvement.
Boosts Public Awareness and Engagement
• Impact stories backed by hard data resonate more strongly.
• Visual reports, infographics, and case studies attract wider audiences.
• Demonstrates that the charity is a leader in its field.
Who should attend?
Anyone involved interested or involved in impact measurement including bid writers and project managers. Impact applies to all types of project and organisation at any size and point in their work.

Participants need to be fairly computer literate as we will be using online tools which are not difficult but will require basic IT skills.