During such a historic week, it seems fitting to discuss impact. I mean, how are we to know the impact that this election will have on generations to come. It is something that we can estimate but something extremely hard to evaluate using standard research methods…so let´s talk about the social sector.

Whether it’s a direct service project, a grant to an organization, or lobbying for change in public policy, how do we really know that nonprofits are making a difference? Yes, it is the ever-popular question: How do you measure social impact?

The only thing clear at this point is that we know, when it comes to our work in the social sector, it is more:

-than the number of people that receive a meal each day

-than the number of positive legislative changes that occur each session

-than the number of dollars that are invested into nonprofits each year

We are looking for a broader measurement of our activities that delves into the deeper layers of our work. So, if we know that much, why is it so hard to put our finger on the exact measures to define social impact?

Personally, I think it is because the word social comes from the concept of companion which has a lot to do with people. And, as we all know, people are hard to define. The challenge in trying to figure out someone is what makes them interesting and, in much the same way, our efforts to define social impact offer many of the same challenges. This question is one that has been circling through my thoughts for years and I admit that I still have not determined a definite answer.

One tool that I have enlisted to assist me in my quest is just to go with gut feeling along the lines of relationship question: Does my relationship with this individual have a positive purpose? Are we better people for having known one another? I can honestly tell you that there are numerous people in my life that achieve a undeniable YES! Though, I could never prove it with statistics or physical evidence. It is just the truth—they had definite social impact on my life. In much the same way, are the beneficiaries of my work better off for receiving these services? While such a question cannot be answered with statistics and cannot provide any hard scientific evidence, it does get down to the very heart of our work. So, I ask you:

What do you think? How do you measure social impact? What tools do you recommend to help others achieve that goal? How do you determine that the work you support is having a positive impact?