Impact
Impact is the change that appears in the world as a result of the work that we do. When leadership, money, management, and communications come together, they create impact. Impact isn’t just the end result of what we do, the thing you see as the curtain falls. Impact accumulates daily, providing us with data, clues, and stories that feed our vision, guide our teams, and strengthen our organizations.
When we observe our impact, we can see what is good, what is working, what should be repeated. We can also see what may not be working, what might be doing harm, what might be “nice” but not creating change.
The Organizer covers all aspects of impact, from theories of change to the nitty-gritty of impact measurement. At the end of the day, this is why we are here.
How to measure your impact (and why it’s important)
For most organizations, one impact measure is powerful enough to monitor progress and keep your team on the same page.
How to start measuring impact
To start measuring impact, keep it simple. Build routines that collect and share impact stories.
Defining your impact isn’t always easy, but you should do it anyway
Make time to define your impact. Forget the excuses and focus on making your workmore meaningful and effective.
The joy of impact measurement
Impact measurement works best when you collect useful data, then use it to tell your story, motivate yourself, and grow.
Performance measurement is a way of paying attention
Pay attention to where you are, where you’re going, and what good can result.
Why we talk about impact
Impact is the best part of public interest work. It is the change that results from your work, like justice or clean water.