Small Foundation’s approach to impact management and learning

Impact is central to Small Foundation and we are dedicated to understanding and increasing our impact. Our impact management and learning team works across the foundation on this.

Our impact management and learning work is anchored in our organisational Theory of Change and is guided by Impact Europe’s five step process for measuring and managing impact, the Operating Principles for Impact Management, the Impact Management Project, and the indicator catalogue of GIIN IRIS+.

Where there are less established approaches to evaluating impact, such as tracking systems change and monitoring impact networks, we are developing and trialling new approaches. One example of this is the Network IMM toolkit. Operationally, we work with partners to develop and monitor individual theories of change. We then collate and analyse quantitative and qualitative data and learnings.

We use impact data and learning to help us make better investment decisions, document successes and failures, and share what we learn with the wider ecosystem. We deeply appreciate our partners’ assistance and enthusiasm on this journey.