How do you measure non-profit impact in changing circumstances?

1 Define your impact goals

The first step to measure your impact is to clearly define what you want to achieve and how you will know if you are successful. Your impact goals should be aligned with your mission, vision, and values, as well as the expectations and requirements of your funders and partners. You should also consider the context and conditions in which you operate, and how they might affect your ability to deliver your services and outcomes. Your impact goals should be SMART: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.

2 Choose your evaluation methods

The next step is to decide how you will collect and analyze the data and evidence that will show your impact. There are many different evaluation methods and tools available, depending on your purpose, resources, and preferences. Some common methods include surveys, interviews, focus groups, observations, case studies, testimonials, stories, and statistics. You should choose the methods that are most appropriate and feasible for your situation, and that will provide you with reliable and valid information. You should also plan how you will store, manage, and protect your data and ensure its quality and integrity.

3 Adapt to changing circumstances

Measuring impact can be challenging due to changing circumstances that may affect your work and evaluation. Unexpected events like natural disasters, political crises, or health emergencies can disrupt operations or create new needs. Additionally, internal or external environment changes like staff turnover, budget cuts, policy shifts, or stakeholder feedback can require adjustments to strategies or priorities. To be flexible and responsive in these situations, you should monitor the changes and their implications for your work and evaluation. Communicating with beneficiaries, stakeholders, and donors about the changes and their expectations is also important. Furthermore, review and revise impact goals, methods, and indicators as needed; document and report the changes and their effects on your impact.

4 Use your impact findings

The final step is to use your impact findings to inform your decisions, actions, and communications. Your impact findings can help you assess progress and performance against your impact goals, identify strengths and weaknesses, and learn from successes and failures. It can also help you demonstrate value and accountability to beneficiaries, stakeholders, and donors; celebrate achievements; recognize contributions; and advocate for your cause. Measuring non-profit impact in changing circumstances can be challenging, but following these steps will ensure that your evaluation is relevant, credible, and useful, and that your impact is meaningful, measurable, and visible.

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?