Outputs are the direct and countable results of activities, such as the number of people reached by a program. Outcomes are the changes or benefits for participants, like improved health or job skills, while impacts are broader long-term changes in communities, though they are harder to measure. According to a research report, most charities provided some information on outcomes, but few disclosed targets, measured change, or reported failures, limiting understanding of their true impact.

1. Reporting Social ImpactPesh Framjee Head of Not for Profit at Crowe Clark Whitehill and Special Advisor to CFDG

2. Why botherTeams that don’t keep the score are only practicing

3. What gets measured gets managed

4. Drives performance

5. Builds support

6. Shows the difference your organisation has madeUnderstanding the performance chain Outcomes InputsActivitiesOutputsImpactsare all the changes resulting from activities, projects and programme. They includeintended as well as unintendednegative as well as positivelong-term as well as short-term effects.They are harder to evaluate.are what the organisation does with its inputs in order to achieve its mission. are countable units. The direct products of programmes or activities. In themselves they are not the objectives.are the benefits or changes for intended beneficiaries/ objectives They are often less tangible and therefore less countable than outputs. Usually planned they should be set out in the objectivesare the resources that contribute to programmes or activities.They include income, staff, volunteers and equipment.

7. Research reportSurveys and opinionReporting by charities on their impact (the broader or longer term change resulting from their activities) was limited with only 8% of charities in the review of external reporting providing impact information.

8. Many more charities (68%) provided some information on outcomes but few disclosed targets, measured the change delivered or reported failure, all of which would help stakeholders assess the difference they have made.Outputs, outcomes and impact