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Measuring and Improving Social Impacts
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Epstein and Yuthas make sense out of the often confusing world of metrics and performance measurement, offering investors, social entrepreneurs, and donors new perspectives on how to approach the challenge of measurement-and how to convert that challenge into an opportunity! They review a variety of approaches to metrics and give readers the skills needed to go from metrics as measurement to metrics as a tool for creating deeper, more sustained value. A must-have for all leaders serious about maximizing the impact of their organization and capital. -- Jed Emerson, Chief Impact Strategist, ImpactAssets This book is a great resource for anyone working to tackle today's complex, global social challenges. Epstein and Yuthas help us ask the right questions, create meaningful measures, and adapt nimbly to test our biggest, boldest ideas and determine if they will deliver the right kind of impact. -- Steven J. McCormick, President and Trustee, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Too often, donors and investors think of social impact measurement as separate from the 'real work' of doing good. Epstein and Yuthas have developed a clear and practical guide to impact measurement-not just how to do it but how to think about it and integrate it into every aspect of your work. Essential reading for anyone looking to move from good intentions to high impact. -- Katherina M. Rosqueta, Founding Executive Director, Center for High Impact Philanthropy, University of Pennsylvania By posing the right questions and providing useful frameworks, Epstein and Yuthas take us on an absorbing voyage of the challenges and solutions available in the field of social impact measurement. The book is a valuable resource for investors keen to generate social impact in a thoughtful, rigorous, and transparent manner. -- Nalini Tarakeshwar, Executive Director, Evidence, Measurement and Evaluation, The Children's Investment Fund Foundation, UK Whether your annual philanthropic contribution is $5,000 or $5,000,000, this book is a must-read to move people out of poverty faster! Epstein and Yuthas provide a unique balance of introspection and global insights to ensure that impact, scale, and sustainability are achieved. -- Deval Sanghavi, cofounder and Partner, Dasra Strategic Philanthropy Foundation, India Epstein and Yuthas provide a lucid and compelling framework-a logic model-for investors, civil society actors, corporate leaders, and policy makers to use resources more effectively and yield better social results. -- Rohini Nilekani, Chairperson, Arghyam This book is an excellent reference point for social impact investing. Epstein and Yuthas have meticulously researched an impressive cross section of companies, nonprofits, foundations, and individuals to build credible metrics and analytical tools, and they offer useful insights to maximize impact. -- Zarina Screwvala, Founder-Trustee, Swades Foundation Epstein and Yuthas offer a clear and highly accessible approach to measuring and creating social impact. Drawing on a diverse array of examples from around the world, they demonstrate that there are no quick fixes and that systematic measurement is essential. -- Alnoor Ebrahim, Associate Professor, Harvard Business School, and author of the award-winning 'NGOs and Organizational Change' Measuring social impact is a topic at the top of so many agendas yet with so little real insight about how to make it real, actionable, and meaningful. Measuring and Improving Social Impacts is a practical guide for maximizing and amplifying impact. A must-read for those grappling with how to define and evaluate success. -- Paul Bernstein, CEO, The Pershing Square Foundation Although this looks like a thorough guidebook for people starting in the field of social change, it is likely to trigger considerable thinking among those who have been involved in philanthropy and the practice of social change for a long time. The desire to bring about social change is quite simple, but doing something about it can be quite complicated-this book helps you to simplify things to achieve your goals. -- Madhav Chavan, PhD, CEO, Pratham Education Foundation Measuring and Improving Social Impacts offers a useful and timely review of the many measurement approaches available to nonprofits, foundations, and impact investors. Epstein and Yuthas provide practical step-by-step guidance along with real-life stories that show how measurement is applied in action and leads to better results. -- Fay Twersky, Director, Effective Philanthropy Group, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation

Table of Contents

PrefaceIntroductionPart 1: What Will You Invest?1. The Social Impact Creation Cycle2. Understanding the InvestorPart 2: What Problem Will You Address?3. Understanding the Problem4. Understanding the Investment OptionsPart 3: What Steps Will You Take?5. How Social Impacts are Created6. Linking Actions to ImpactsPart 4: How Will You Measure Success?7. Measurement Basics8. Measurement Approaches9. Measuring Your ImpactPart 5 How Can You Increase Impact?10. Social Impact Measurement Maturity11. Amplifying Your Impact12. Call to ActionSocial Impact Self-AssessmentNotesBibliographyIndexAbout the Authors

About the Author

Epstein, Marc J.; Yuthas, Kristi

Reviews

How any organization (whatever its size and nature may be) can substantially increase and improve its positive social impact



Many of the best business books were written to share the results of research conducted to answer an especially important question. That is certainly true of this one. Marc Epstein and Kristi Yuthas interviewed more than one hundred leaders, soliciting their responses to not one but several separate but interrelated questions. In essence, they asked: "How to measure and then improve social impacts?"



They invoke the "journey" metaphor because some of those who read this book have already embarked on efforts to make a positive difference by supporting the causes they care most about; others are still in the planning process; and still others are struggling to decide whether

or not to become significantly involved in social initiatives.



A set of five interview questions provides the framework of the book Epstein and Yuthas wrote in order to share what they learned:



1. What will you invest?

2. What problem will you address?

3. What steps will you take?

4. How will you measure success?

5. How can you increase impact?



These five questions are structural Parts within which the material is organized and presented. They also comprise what Epstein and Yuthas identify as "The Social Impact Creation Cycle." The aforementioned questions are answered in sequence. Keep in mind that the Cycle is an on-going process, literally a work in progress, and will probably require continuous modification. Monitoring the cycle will indicate when and why to commit less of some resources, for example, and more of others. It is important to keep in mind that external as well as internal developments may require some of those modifications.



Think of Epstein and Yuthas in terms of various roles they play: First, they are the co-authors of this book, best viewed as an operations manual. Also, they will be consultants as answers to the first three questions are determined or (if the journey is underway) for evaluating -- and perhaps revising -- the answers that have guided and informed efforts until now. Moreover, because no two organizational "journeys" are ever the same nor is an organization the same as when it first embarked, Epstein and Yuthas will be guides and advisors during five key processes: formulation of plan, implementation of it, measurement of progress to date, evaluation, and amplification. Measurement reveals (at best) partial success, progress, evaluation reveals what works, what doesn't, and why so that the given organization can intensify effort and increase investment in one area (or areas) and reduce or eliminate elsewhere.



I congratulate Marc Epstein and Kristi Yuthas on producing a book that may well prove to be for some readers, especially for leaders in nonprofits, the most valuable they will read this year and perhaps in years to come.
*Bob Morris, Employee Engagement Network*

I congratulate Marc Epstein and Kristi Yuthas on producing a book that may well prove to be for some readers, especially for leaders in nonprofits, the most valuable they will read this year and perhaps in years to come. -- Bob Morris, Employee Engagement Network

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