Social impact: what is 'meaningful' measurement?

By: 

Cheryl Chapman

Managing Editor, Philanthropy UK

Can the good philanthropists do be meaningfully measured? And if so, how can the human factor of social impact be captured?

Philanthropy UK highlights the topical and contentious issue of ‘measuring social impact’ in its June Newsletter, published next week. We canvas opinion across the third sector and highlight the benefits and challenges of measurement today, with case studies showing how organisations are responding to the demand to know how donations make a difference to the world.

Also, following the publication of a new ‘Guide to Social Return on Investment (SROI)’ in May, we focus on the analytical tool which is at the heart of government plans to support third sector organisations to demonstrate added social value.

In ‘My Philanthropic Journey’, pioneering philanthropist Stephen Dawson, who co-founded the UK's first general venture philanthropy Impetus Trust, tells his inspirational story.

And we hear from New Philanthropy Capital on why the third sector needs a professional association of non-profit analysts, which was the topic at the centre of a ‘ground-breaking’ conference held in May.

Along with a review of Acumen founder and trailblazer Jacqueline Novogratz’ philanthropic ‘memoir’ ‘The Blue Sweater - Bridging the gap between rich and poor in an interconnected world’, Philanthropy UK’s forthcoming Newsletter once again provides food for thought and essential reading to the philanthropic community.

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