Social impact is the effect on people and communities that happens as a result of an action or inaction, an activity, project, programme or policy.
It is important for every organisation to measure their social impact so they can tell the story of the change they make - their supporters, stakeholders, funders and others will want to know this. Donors and other stakeholders want to see their funding used to create impact. They want to know that their contributing to an organisation will make a difference.
Beneficiaries are the individuals or groups who derive the main benefits that are linked to the social mission of an organization (as differentiated by customers or clients who pay for a service. See www.tricofoundation.ca). Examples of beneficiary groups include:
Community-wide outcomes are about changing the way a jurisdiction, sector, section of the community or society works by:
A community-wide outcome might be framed as, i.e., "Bermuda ensures equal access to good quality mental health services" and be measured by the degree of preventative support and programmes available.
Organisational or Field outcomes change the way the "world" is experienced by individuals as a result of the work of organisations and networks. They try to make institutions, a field of practice or a process better by:
Organisations working towards individual-level outcomes make change for individuals and how they approach their worlds. Individual outcomes are participant-centered and the primary impact is on the person who is involved in a programme by: