Preface
Introduction
Part 1: What will you invest?
Chapter 1: The Social Impact Creation Cycle
Chapter 2: Understanding the Investor
Part 2: What problem will you address?
Chapter 3: Understanding the Problem
Chapter 4: Understanding the Investment Options
Part 3: What steps will you take?
Chapter 5: How to Create Social Impacts
Chapter 6: Linking Actions to Impacts
Part 4: How will you measure success?
Chapter 7: Measurement Basics
Chapter 8: Measurement Approaches
Chapter 9: Measuring Your Impact
Part 5: How can you increase impact?
Chapter 10: Social Impact Measurement Maturity
Chapter 11: Amplifying Your Impact
Chapter 12: Call to Action
Social Impact Self-Assessment
Notes
Bibliography
Index
About the Authors
Marc J. Epstein is Distinguished Research Professor of Management
at Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University. He has
been a professor at Stanford Business School, Harvard Business
School, and INSEAD. He is the author of twenty books and numerous
academic and managerial articles.
Kristi Yuthas is Swigert Endowed Chair at Portland State
University's School of Business Administration and has worked with
companies and nonprofits around the world. She has authored over a
hundred presentations and publications in sustainability, ethics,
and the use of business tools to address social issues.
“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
“A fascinating read . . . very valuable to corporate foundations
like mine that are grappling with effectiveness at the foundation
level and also understanding and measuring the added value for the
corporation and its employees.”
—Vidya Shah, CEO, EdelGive Foundation, Edelweiss Group, India
“A welcome addition to the literature…Highly recommended.”
—Choice Named one of Sustainable Industries magazine’s Best Books
of 2008
“An outstanding contribution to the field.”
—Strategic Finance
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