Measuring What Matters: The Power of Impact Reporting
As the days grow shorter and the year winds down, it’s that familiar season of reflection; when teams prepare for what’s ahead in the year to come, take stock of what’s been accomplished, and tell the story of their impact.
Our nonprofit and social impact sectors do so much to elevate the quality of life in their communities. Impact measurement and reporting offer a way to showcase, evaluate, and celebrate the accomplishments of those doing the work.
Collectivity has had the honor of collaborating with many partners to share their stories of impact. We want to share three key lessons we’ve learned along the way; practical tips that can strengthen any organization’s approach to impact reporting.
1. Match the Medium to the Message
When people hear "impact measurement and reporting," they may initially think of tedious grant requirements: number of clients served, participant income, hours worked, dollars spent, and other metrics. Quantitative data can be a powerful way to demonstrate impact, depending on your work and audience.
But not all impact can be measured; sometimes, it has to be expressed. Qualitative data might include stories of lived experience, photography and video, testimonials from participants, or the value created through community events, assets, and designs.
Impact reporting is about matching the medium to the message and choosing the approach that best tells your organization’s story.
2. Invest in the Outline
The first step in any impact report is the outline (or a storyboard, if you’re creating a video). The outline is more than just the skeleton of the story - it’s the space where the team aligns on the message, structure, and approach before committing to the details.
Many teams find that outlining an impact report becomes a valuable strategy exercise in itself, beyond being the first step toward a finished report, website, or video. Whenever possible, invest extra time in the outline stage to make the most of the conversations, wordsmithing, and shared visioning that naturally emerge when you work together to summarize an entire year’s impact.
3. Celebrate!
Impact reporting, no matter the format, is a chance to celebrate your team’s accomplishments and growth. It’s a moment to reflect on what has been achieved while also looking ahead to what’s next. Sharing impact is an opportunity to strengthen your message and brand, highlight your purpose, and deepen collaboration across your organization.
Have fun with it. There’s no single “right” way to showcase impact: it could be a black-and-white PDF report, an interactive website, a magazine, a social media campaign, and more. Think creatively about what will engage your audience, energize your team, and best reflect the work you do.
In the digital age, there are countless creative ways to showcase meaningful work. Innovations in graphic and web design make it easier than ever to tell a compelling story. Some of Collectivity’s recent impact reporting projects include:
Engineers Without Borders - USA 2024 Interactive Report Site and Video
Saint Paul and Minnesota Foundation - East Metro Main Street Economic Revitalization Program Impact Report
East Side Employment xChange - 2024 Impact Report PDF
Collectivity - 2024 Impact Report Site and PDF
We’re proud to have partnered with so many mission-driven organizations to bring their impact stories to life, and we’re always excited to help new partners do the same.
If your team is ready to elevate how you measure, communicate, and celebrate your impact, reach out to us at info@collectivity.coop to learn more about how Collectivity can support you.
