Programme overview
Technical depth: Practitioner · Practical mode: Case study
Introduction
Funders, boards and beneficiaries increasingly ask non-profit organisations to show what changed because of their work, not only what they delivered. Many organisations still report activity counts, cannot evidence outcomes and struggle to value social change credibly, which weakens grant applications and board decisions. This Core Concept course equips programme and monitoring leads to build an evidence chain from Theory of Change to published report, using recognised measurement and valuation methods. Participants work through case material from health, education and community programmes and leave with an Impact Measurement Framework and Social Impact Report outline for one of their own programmes.
Course Objectives
- Build a Theory of Change and results framework that link programme activities to measurable outcomes and long-term impact
- Select outcome indicators using IRIS+ metrics, the Five Dimensions of Impact and SMART criteria
- Design baselines, sampling plans and data collection tools that produce credible evidence at a cost the organisation can sustain
- Estimate the organisation's contribution to outcomes and value social change using contribution analysis and the SROI method
- Assess data quality, bias and ethical risk in impact evidence and apply controls before results are published
- Produce a Social Impact Report aligned with the Principles of Social Value for boards, funders and the public
Target Audience
- Programme and project managers accountable for demonstrating results to funders and boards
- Monitoring, evaluation and learning managers designing indicators and data systems
- Grant and partnership managers responsible for donor and funder reporting
- Strategy and performance managers in foundations, charities and endowments
- Community investment managers reporting the social outcomes of corporate programmes
Course Outline
Day 1: Impact Measurement Foundations and Current-State Review
- Results Chain Definitions: Inputs, Outputs, Outcomes and Impact
- Funder and Board Evidence Expectations Mapping
- Principles of Social Value Overview
- Impact Measurement Maturity Self-Assessment
- Stakeholder Mapping for Outcome Identification
Day 2: Frameworks, Models and Standards
- Theory of Change Construction: Pathways, Preconditions and Assumptions
- Logical Framework Matrix and Results Framework Design
- Five Dimensions of Impact: What, Who, How Much, Contribution and Risk
- OECD DAC Evaluation Criteria: Relevance to Sustainability
- IRIS+ Core Metrics Sets and SDG Target Alignment
Day 3: Indicators, Data Collection and Analysis
- SMART Outcome Indicator Specification Sheets
- Baseline Design and Sampling Plans
- Survey and Interview Instrument Design with KoboToolbox
- Most Significant Change Technique for Qualitative Evidence
- Outcome Data Analysis and Dashboards in Power BI
Day 4: Attribution, Valuation and Evidence Quality
- Contribution Analysis and Counterfactual Reasoning
- SROI Impact Map: Deadweight, Attribution, Displacement and Drop-Off
- Financial Proxies and Wellbeing Valuation Methods
- Data Quality Assessment: Validity, Reliability and Bias Checks
- Informed Consent and Beneficiary Data Protection Protocol
Day 5: Case Work and the Impact Measurement Framework
- Youth Employment Programme Case Study: Evidence Gap Review
- Community Health Programme Case Study: SROI Ratio Challenge
- Impact Measurement Framework Drafting for an Own Programme
- Social Impact Report Outline and Narrative Structure
- Peer Review Panel and Framework Defence
Skills You Will Gain
- Theory of Change Design
- Outcome Indicator Development
- Impact Data Collection
- Qualitative Evidence Analysis
- Social Value Measurement
- Attribution Analysis
- Evidence Quality Assurance
- Impact Communication
Why Attend This Course
- Return to work with an Impact Measurement Framework and Social Impact Report outline for one of your own programmes, already tested by peers
- Replace activity counts in funder reports with outcome evidence that withstands board and donor scrutiny
- Defend impact claims by showing what would have happened anyway and what share of the change the organisation can credibly claim
- Compare measurement practice with peers from charities, foundations and corporate community programmes in other countries
Conclusion
Reporting what an organisation did is no longer enough to secure funding or board confidence. This course moves from the results chain and Theory of Change, through indicators, data collection and recognised valuation methods, to the attribution, quality and ethics questions that decide whether an impact claim is credible. The final day turns that material into an Impact Measurement Framework and Social Impact Report outline, giving participants a structured and defensible basis for reporting the change their programmes create.