Impact measurement, evaluation and data
How do I know if I’m making a difference? What should charities measure? How can charities make the most of data? How can I use data ethically?
Whether you’re a charity or funder, impact measurement and evaluation is all about helping you improve the good work you’re doing. By understanding what’s going well, and learning from what’s not, you can take steps to better serve the people and causes you support. What’s more, you can pool insights together through shared impact measurement. This helps you get the bigger picture on what is often a complex story.
You might be just starting out on all this. Or perhaps you need in-depth advice on a specific area, like handling data or conducting qualitative research. Whatever your situation, we have guidance for you.
Our Understanding Impact guide takes you through how to create an impact measurement framework. To dig deeper, we run regular training events, and our consultants can provide independent measurement and evaluation services.
Starting to measure your impact
Take your first steps into measuring, understanding, and improving your impact through good impact practice.
Find out moreFeatured resources on measurement, evaluation and data
Understanding Impact
How to turn your theory of change into a plan for measurement, the five types of data you will need to pay attention to, and how to prioritise what to measure.
Theory of change in ten steps
This new guide is a ten step handbook to creating a theory of change, built on many years of developing them for charities and funders. It will teach you the basics, our core approach, with the information you need to do any theory of change.
What does ‘impact measurement’ really mean?
We use the terms ‘impact’ and ‘impact measurement’ a lot. But what do they really mean? James Noble breaks it down for us.
Five types of data for assessing your work: An explainer
NPC has worked with many charities and social enterprises over the years to help them work out what data they need to understand and improve their work. Here our head of impact management James Noble introduces the different kinds of information organisations can collect.
Listen and learn: How charities can use qualitative research
Qualitative research is focused on what things mean to people, and so it sits very naturally with the questions that a charity asks. This paper explains why we think qualitative research approaches offer real benefits to charities seeking to understand and improve their work.
Balancing act: A guide to proportionate evaluation
What constitutes a proportionate and meaningful way to evaluate a programme? It’s a difficult but crucial question. This paper will help you think through the options and make a decision that reflects your organisation’s needs, available resources and the operating context.
Result! What good impact reporting looks like
How charities can plan and produce a good impact report.
Data with destiny
In this short practical guide, we outline how charities can turn their raw data into wisdom and informed action.
Latest updates
Theory of change in ten steps
A theory of change process encourages us to reflect on our aims and plans, to discuss them with others and to make them explicit. We see this process as the foundation of charity strategy, evaluation and communication.
Listen: How to measure your impact
Rosie McLeod speaks with Sam Davies, host of the Charity Chat podcast, to talk about how charities can measure their impact.
The value of assessing ‘value for money’
Is it helpful to assess whether charities provide value for money? Learn about our experience conducting a value for money assessment of the Coronavirus Community Support Fund (CCSF).
The power of collaboration
An evaluation of Take Note's model for partnerships. Take Note aims to spark and support extraordinary artistic collaborations to deliver ambitious, inclusive community arts projects.
Inspiring Impact end-of-programme evaluation & learning report
The Inspiring Impact programme ran for ten years and ended in February 2022. With Inspiring Impact closed, NPC, as lead partner for the programme, commissioned an external evaluation.
Announcing the launch of Equitable Evaluation Collective in the UK
NPC, the Centre for Youth Impact, the Charity Evaluation Working Group, and the Social Investment Consultancy are pleased to announce the Equitable Evaluation Collective.
Impact practices: getting started
The cycle of good impact practice provides simple, step-by-step guidance for how to plan your impact, carry out measurement, assess the data you collect, and review your work. It is a four-step process and there are lots of practical, downloadable resources to support you along the way.
A big year for social impact and for NPC
For us at NPC, 2022 is our 20th year of existence. 20 years working with, and as part of, this terrific charity and philanthropy sector to help it maximise its social impact. Already this year we are excited by lots of things we have upcoming.
Marking ten years of the Inspiring Impact programme
Inspiring Impact is ten years old. Take a look at some of the programme's proudest accomplishments and learn more about what comes next for this initiative.
How to get the most out of a learning partnership
This blog explores what learning partnerships are, what they can do for you, and why you might want to commission a learning partner.
Impact measurement for flexible funding
For most funders, impact measurement is one of the feedback loops that drives grant-making decisions, so we can’t rethink grant-making without rethinking the way we measure impact and learn from our grants.
Evaluating the Building Connections Fund
Our guidance for grant-holders of the Building Connections Fund, which can be applied to other projects tackling loneliness. It is designed to complement the What Works Centre for Wellbeing’s guidance A Brief Guide to measuring loneliness.
Find out how we can help you
You might be just starting out on all this. Or perhaps you need in-depth advice on a specific area, like handling data or conducting qualitative research. Whatever your situation, we have guidance for you.
Get in touch