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PM2: Explaining your impact

Shehnaaz Latif, Charities Evaluation

Service

Joy Dobbs, NCVO

What are the challenges of explaining impact?

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impact evaluation output

input indicator outcome

milestones monitoring activity

theory of change process

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Theory of change – a whistlestop tour!

An example

For more info: www.ces-vol.org.uk/toc

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Theory of change – a whistlestop tour!‘An explanation of why a particular way of working will be effective, showing how change happens in the short, medium and long term to achieve intended aims.’

- Description of how an initiative works- Map showing connections between outputs and outcomes- Explanation of links between levels of change- Explanation of complexity of change- Plausible explanation of achievable outcomes

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The theory of change should be clear, useful and have buy-in. You can help achieve this by:- Participatory activities, such as group discussion- Building consensus through workshop activity, and subsequent revision through face to face, email, etc.- A clear grounding in the context- Sufficient allocated time to carry out a genuinely reflective process- Senior management support- Allocating necessary resources

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Alternative approaches include:

- logic model- CES planning triangle ©

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Let’s have a go!

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Code of good impact practice

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Code of good impact practice• Part of Inspiring Impact initiative work on impact leadership

http://inspiringimpact.org/• Aim: organisations are clearer about what constitutes

good impact practice and can plan a journey for how to get there

• How: by setting out – a cycle of impact practice – a series of high-level principles for organisations to apply in focusing on their impact.

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Code of good impact practice (CoGIP)• Primarily directed at senior staff and trustees of

charities and social enterprises• Accessible to people who aren’t measurement

experts, not focussed particularly on measurement• Was developed amongst impact professionals and

widely consulted on across the non-profit sector • Provide a consistent framework that others can

use too e.g. commissioners/funders

CoGIP: cycle of impact practiceBased on the Inspiring Impact cycle of the four main areas of activity that make up impact practicePlan/Do/Assess/Review (see diagram)

Plan - Identify your desired impact and how to deliver it - Understand what to measure about your impact, identify the information you need and how to collect it

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CoGIP: Principles Eight principles, for each is: brief description, explanation of why it is important and some ideas about how to implement it.

1. Take responsibility for impact and encourage others to do so too. 2. Focus on purpose. 3. Involve others in your impact practice. 4. Apply proportionate and appropriate methods and resources.

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CoGIP: Principles cont’d)

5. Consider the full range of the difference you actually make. 6. Be honest and open. 7. Be willing to change and act on what you find. 8. Actively share your impact plans, methods, findings and learning

CoGIP: other useful resources- Code complement the Funders’ Principles and Drivers of Good Impact Practice - Code underpinned by the step-by-step self-assessment tool, Measuring Up!- Putting the Code into Practice (July 2014) based on forums of people working on impact

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Measuring Up!

A step-by-step, self-assessment tool for third sector organisations that reviews their capacity to plan, evidence, communicate and learn from the difference they make.

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Measuring Up!

www.inspiringimpact.org

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Shehnaaz Latifshehnaaz@ces-vol.org.uk

Joy Dobbsjoy.dobbs@ncvo.org.uk

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NCVO/BWB Trustee Conference 2014Developing exceptional governance

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Inspirational governance

Sir Peter Bazalgette, Chair, Arts Council England

Chloe Donovan, Young Trustee, Step Up to Serve

Alice Maynard, Director of Association of Chairs

and Director of Future Inclusion

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NCVO/BWB Trustee Conference 2014Developing exceptional governance