The document discusses social impact measurement and outlines several key points: 1) Measuring social outcomes is important for organizational learning, accountability, and sustainability. 2) Organizations need to be clear on their goals and context before selecting impact measurement approaches. 3) There are many different impact evaluation methods and no single best approach; the right method depends on the program and resources. 4) Developing a theory of change can help organizations understand how their work creates social impact.

1. Stephen Bennett, Centre for Social Impact @CSIsocialimpact
Emma Tomkinson, Social Impact Measurement Network of Australia
@emma_tomkinson @SIMNA_AU
16 October 2014
THE CASE FOR CHANGE – WHAT
IS SOCIAL IMPACT?
Cultural Development Collective #CDCSydney

2. Our goal for this evening
For everyone here to:
•have confidence to ask the right questions of themselves;
•know what they need to ask of their department / organisation; and
•be pleased they’ve already begun the journey.

3. 3
NAVIGATING MEASUREMENT

4. 4
IN CONTEXT: NOT-FOR-PROFIT SECTOR GROWTH
*The illustration shows the NFP sector alongside National Accounts industries for comparative purposes. Note that the NFP sector
contribution is also counted within some of these industries e.g. Health care and social assistance.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (2014) Australian National Accounts: Non-Profit Institutions Satellite Account, 2012-13
(5256.0); Australian Bureau of Statistics (2013) Australian System of National Accounts (5204.0)
68%
36%
33% 32%
28%
18% 17%
14% 14%
2%
-2%
-10.00%
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
80.00%
"NFP sector" Mining Professional,
scientific and
technical services
Health care and
social assistance
Construction Financial and
insurance services
Gross Domestic
Product
Education and
training
Retail trade Accommodation
and food services
Manufacturing
Industry growth rates in Australia (gross added value) 2006/7 - 2012/3*

5. 5
WHY DOES MEASURING OUTCOMES MATTER
1. Learning, development and improved performance
2. Communication and branding
3. Accountability and compliance
4. Increased efficiency
5. Organisational sustainability
6. For making a difference/for better outcomes
Does anyone else feel like we
could do better?

6. 6
GETTING ORGANISATIONALLY READY FOR
MEASUREMENT
1. Be clear about your purpose
2. Be clear about why you are measuring
3. Do you understand your organisations context
for measurement?
4. Do you understand how your program works?

7. 7
SELECTING AN APPROACH
There are many different types of impact evaluation to measure and
demonstrate impact
There is no best approach – just ones more suitable than others:
We're just starting to plan
our evaluation. Which
methods should we
consider?
All of them.

8. BRINGING IT TOGETHER
1. Background
• Why bother? Program and measuring
• What do you already know?
• What resources do you have?
• Who are the stakeholders here? What’s their involvement, interest?
• What’s at stake?
• What else might need to be considered?
2. Theory of change
• What’s your theory of change?
• How are you going to develop this?
• If you already have one, is it sound? How do you know?
8

9. SOCIAL IMPACT MEASUREMENT
Telling a story of what you do and why it matters
Count or proportion of social change occurring
Using data to make decisions
Demonstrating change is caused by an experience or event
Performance management: continuous evaluation and improvement
(Emma Tomkinson)

21. Contact details
Stephen Bennett
Research Officer
Centre for Social Impact
P+61 2 8936 0901
E:s.bennett@unsw.edu.au
@CSIsocialimpact
www.csi.edu.au
Emma Tomkinson
NSW Committee Member
Social Impact Measurement Network of Australia
0424 614 612
E: emma@emmatomkinson.com
@emma_tomkinson
www.emmatomkinson.com

22. What have you tried?
•what was fun or helpful?
•what was dreary or useless?
•what’s in the way of doing more?

23. Did we achieve our goal?
For everyone here to:
•have confidence to ask the right questions of themselves;
•know what they need to ask of their department / organisation; and
•be pleased they’ve already begun the journey.

24. Think Outcomes is a two-day conference presented by CSI, the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) and the Social Impact Measurement Network Australia (SIMNA).
thinkoutcomes.net.au
10 small not-for-profit organisations has the chance to come toThink Outcomesfor FREE (there is no limit on the number of entries from each organisation). The deadline for entries is 30 October. Apply on the CSI website:
http://www.csi.edu.au/think-outcomes-springtime-lottery/

25. •There are seven categories of Award to choose from. You can enter more than one category!
•There is one Application Form and six questions to answer
•Thedeadline for applications is 12 noon on Monday, 3 November2014.
•More information online at www.simna.com.au.

26. •Excellence in Social Impact Measurement –NFP
•Excellence in Social Impact Measurement –Government
•Excellence in Social Impact Measurement –Corporate
•Excellence in Social Impact Measurement –Philanthropic Foundation
•Innovation in Social Impact Measurement –open to all sectors
•Excellence in Collaboration in Social Impact Measurement – open to all sectors
•Best newcomer to Social Impact Measurement –open to all sectors

27. •Australia’s only community of practice for social impact measurement
•www.simna.com.au
•Membership is free –get on the mailing list by submitting your email on the ‘contact us’ form
•Upcoming events in Sydney: 23 October, 2 Dec
•Contact: Lisa McGhee, Community Convenor
•Email: lisa@simna.com.au